Heading · Chapter 19
1903: Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch, in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms
Heading 1903 has no further six-digit division: the whole heading is subheading 1903.00, in chapter 19 (preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products).
Duty rates compared
UK specific or compound duty Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
EU specific or compound duty Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 6.4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · 1× specific or compound duty 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 14.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 16% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 9.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 7% – 17% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 12.7% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland specific or compound duty General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway specific or compound duty General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Subheadings 1
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$57kUS$57k+US$476k+US$4m+> US$29m
Exports: 104
- Taiwan: US$87m
- Thailand: US$46m
- China: US$29m
- India: US$14m
- Brazil: US$9m
- Netherlands: US$8m
- Indonesia: US$8m
- United States: US$6m
- Belgium: US$4m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$4m
- Vietnam: US$4m
- France: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$3m
- Denmark: US$3m
- Singapore: US$1m
- Germany: US$1m
- Spain: US$1m
- Pakistan: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Malaysia: US$900k
- Portugal: US$686k
- Nigeria: US$613k
- Philippines: US$604k
- South Korea: US$476k
- Ireland: US$445k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$352k
- Dominican Republic: US$334k
- Sri Lanka: US$306k
- Sweden: US$237k
- Jamaica: US$194k
- Canada: US$193k
- Cameroon: US$187k
- Togo: US$165k
- United Arab Emirates: US$140k
- Türkiye: US$117k
- Italy: US$112k
- Venezuela: US$108k
- Poland: US$95k
- Myanmar (Burma): US$94k
- Slovakia: US$94k
- Egypt: US$94k
- Lebanon: US$93k
- Ecuador: US$89k
- Czechia: US$80k
- Greece: US$63k
- Austria: US$60k
- Ghana: US$59k
- Australia: US$57k
- Israel: US$54k
- Cambodia: US$53k
- Colombia: US$37k
- Japan: US$36k
- Tanzania: US$30k
- Hungary: US$21k
- Switzerland: US$21k
- Bulgaria: US$18k
- Nicaragua: US$17k
- New Zealand: US$17k
- Costa Rica: US$16k
- Bangladesh: US$14k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$65kUS$65k+US$452k+US$3m+> US$9m
Imports: 186
- United States: US$60m
- Canada: US$12m
- Netherlands: US$10m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$9m
- France: US$9m
- United Kingdom: US$9m
- Bangladesh: US$9m
- Germany: US$8m
- Malaysia: US$7m
- Mexico: US$7m
- Japan: US$7m
- China: US$7m
- Australia: US$6m
- Nigeria: US$6m
- Philippines: US$5m
- Spain: US$5m
- Indonesia: US$4m
- Saudi Arabia: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Vietnam: US$3m
- Singapore: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$2m
- Poland: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Sri Lanka: US$2m
- Italy: US$2m
- Russia: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Israel: US$973k
- Ireland: US$899k
- Cambodia: US$851k
- New Zealand: US$818k
- Cameroon: US$775k
- Senegal: US$739k
- Ghana: US$674k
- Thailand: US$626k
- Switzerland: US$571k
- Macao SAR China: US$537k
- Angola: US$527k
- Taiwan: US$523k
- Mauritius: US$505k
- Denmark: US$497k
- Guinea: US$462k
- Kuwait: US$452k
- Czechia: US$444k
- Nepal: US$433k
- Sweden: US$421k
- Botswana: US$407k
- India: US$393k
- Laos: US$326k
- Gambia: US$312k
- Hungary: US$305k
- Brunei: US$300k
- Qatar: US$292k
- Timor-Leste: US$283k
- Oman: US$279k
- Finland: US$252k
- Paraguay: US$252k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan | US$87m | 36.4% |
| 2 |  Thailand | US$46m | 19.2% |
| 3 |  China | US$29m | 12.2% |
| 4 |  India | US$14m | 5.7% |
| 5 | Brazil | US$9m | 3.8% |
| 6 |  Netherlands | US$8m | 3.2% |
| 7 |  Indonesia | US$8m | 3.2% |
| 8 | United States | US$6m | 2.3% |
| 9 |  Belgium | US$4m | 1.9% |
| 10 |  Côte d’Ivoire | US$4m | 1.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$60m | 25.1% |
| 2 | Canada | US$12m | 4.9% |
| 3 | Netherlands | US$10m | 4.2% |
| 4 |  South Korea | US$10m | 4.1% |
| 5 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$9m | 4% |
| 6 |  France | US$9m | 3.9% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$9m | 3.7% |
| 8 |  Bangladesh | US$9m | 3.6% |
| 9 |  Germany | US$8m | 3.5% |
| 10 |  Malaysia | US$7m | 3.1% |
In the EU Combined Nomenclature the line under heading 1903 carries a specific or compound duty rather than a percentage.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, where the duty is 6.4%.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 1903 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free. 1 line has a specific or compound duty.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of Canada, where the duty is duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) has one tariff line for heading 1903; the duty is 10%.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), where the duty is 14.4%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) has one tariff line for heading 1903; the duty is 16%.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of Peru, where the duty is duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand has one tariff line for heading 1903; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, where the duty is 9.6%.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 1903 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 7% and 17% (average 12.7%).
Heading 1903 is a single line in the GCC Common Customs Tariff, where the duty is 5%.
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) the line under heading 1903 carries a specific or compound duty rather than a percentage.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway the line under heading 1903 carries a specific or compound duty rather than a percentage.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia has one tariff line for heading 1903; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 1903 is a single line in the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), where the duty is 20%.
World trade in heading 1903 goods reached US$239m in 2024, down 2% on 2023.
Taiwan was the largest exporter with 36.4% of the total, ahead of Thailand.
The United States imported the most (US$60m).
The United Kingdom ranked 13th among 104 exporters with US$3m.
The United Kingdom imported US$9m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch, in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms?
Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch, in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms fall under HS heading 1903, part of chapter 19, in section IV of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from… in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 1903 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6.4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from… in the United States?
Under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, imports under 1903 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from…?
Taiwan, with US$87m in 2024 (36.4% of world exports).