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HS 12Agricultural commodities

HS Code for Soybeans, Meal & Oil (Chapters 12, 15 and 23)

Soy is the world's largest oilseed crop. Whole beans sit under HS 1201, crude soybean oil under 1507 and defatted meal (SBM) under 2304. Origin GMO status, EUDR compliance and phytosanitary rules matter as much as the tariff line for this trade.

HS Classification for HS Code for Soybeans, Meal & Oil (Chapters 12, 15 and 23)
In 2026, HS Code for Soybeans, Meal & Oil (Chapters 12, 15 and 23) is primarily classified under HS Chapter 12. The 6-digit Harmonized System codes are consistent globally, while duty rates and regulatory requirements (like CBAM or export incentives) vary by destination market.

Sample 6-digit codes

CodeDescription
1201.10Soya beans, seed
1201.90Soya beans, other than seed
1507.10Crude soya-bean oil, whether or not degummed
1507.90Refined soya-bean oil
2304.00Oil-cake and solid residues from soya-bean oil extraction (meal)
Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

MarketDuty
China
3% (whole beans) / 9% (meal)
Plus 9% VAT; largest global importer via crushers.
European Union
0% (beans) / 0% (meal) / 3.2-9.6% (oil)
EUDR applies from Dec 2025 for beans and derivatives.
India (BCD)
0-45%
Varies by notification and by product; crude soy oil at ~10-15%.
Egypt
0%
Zero for feed inputs to protect poultry cost base.

Numerical Example: 50,000 MT whole soybeans, FOB Paranagua USD 430/t, to Nantong, China

50,000 MT whole soybeans, FOB Paranagua USD 430/t, to Nantong, China. Run your own numbers in the Import Duty & Tax calculator.

FOB valueUSD 21,500,000
Freight + insuranceUSD 2,100,000
CIF valueUSD 23,600,000
China duty @ 3%USD 708,000
VAT @ 9% on (CIF + duty)USD 2,187,720
Total Landed CostLanded cost ≈ USD 26,495,720 - roughly USD 529.91/t.
Model different Incoterms and markets in the landed cost by HS calculator.
Regulatory checkpoints
  • · EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 2023/1115 - due diligence from Dec 2025.
  • · GMO labelling - EU 1829/2003; import approval per event (MON, GT, etc.).
  • · Phytosanitary certificate + fumigation for bulk cargoes.
  • · Aflatoxin B1 limits under Codex CXS 193 and national standards.
Top exporting countries
  • · Brazil
  • · United States
  • · Argentina
  • · Paraguay
  • · Canada

Frequently asked questions

Are soybean meal and soy oil taxed the same as whole beans?

No. China taxes beans at 3% but soybean meal at 9% to protect the domestic crush margin. The EU applies zero on both beans and meal but a positive tariff on refined oil.

Does EUDR apply to soy imports?

Yes. From 30 December 2025, soy, soybean meal and downstream derivatives require geolocation of the plot of origin and a due-diligence statement demonstrating deforestation-free supply after 31 December 2020.

Import duty and tax by destination market

Typical MFN duty, consumption tax and the tax base applied to agricultural commodities (HS 12) in each market we cover. Rates are indicative at the 6-digit line | confirm the national 8/10-digit code with your broker.

MarketDutyConsumption taxTax baseTax as % of CIF
India5%IGST 18%Assessable value + duty24.1%
United Arab Emirates5%VAT 5%CIF + duty10.3%
Saudi Arabia5%VAT 15%CIF + duty20.8%
Singapore5%GST 9%CIF + duty14.4%
China5%VAT 13%CIF + duty18.6%
United States5%Federal VAT 0%CIF5.3%
United Kingdom5%VAT 20%CIF + duty26.0%
Germany5%USt 19%CIF + duty24.9%
Netherlands5%BTW 21%CIF + duty27.1%
Vietnam5%VAT 10%CIF + duty15.5%
Türkiye5%KDV 20%CIF + duty26.0%
Japan5%JCT 10%CIF + duty15.5%
South Korea5%VAT 10%CIF + duty15.5%
Brazil5%IPI+PIS/COFINS+ICMS 32%CIF + duty38.6%
Indonesia5%PPN 11%CIF + duty19.1%
Mexico5%IVA 16%CIF + duty22.7%
Egypt5%VAT 14%CIF + duty19.7%
Nigeria5%VAT 7.5%CIF + duty14.5%
South Africa5%VAT 15%Assessable value + duty22.8%
Australia5%GST 10%CIF + duty15.5%

Run your own numbers with the landed cost calculator or check documentation requirements in the LC document checklist.

Related commodity guides

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Sources & citations

Source: European Commission - EU Deforestation Regulation 2023/1115Official Resource
Last reviewed: August 2026
Source: World Customs Organization - WCO Harmonized System NomenclatureOfficial Resource
Last reviewed: August 2026
Source: World Trade Organization - WTO Integrated Database (tariff data)Official Resource
Last reviewed: August 2026

Duty rates and regulations compiled from WCO HS, WTO integrated database, national customs authorities and published FTA schedules. Provided for decision-support only - confirm the 10-digit line and current preferential status with your licensed customs broker before acting.

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