This guide has HS codes explained in plain terms — what they are and how they work. The Harmonized System (HS) is an international product classification developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and used by 200+ countries to identify goods in trade and calculate duties.
How an HS code is structured
- Chapter (2 digits) — the broad product category (e.g. 09 = Coffee, Tea & Spices).
- Heading (4 digits) — a narrower group within the chapter.
- Subheading (6 digits) — the internationally standard product code.
- National extensions (8–10 digits) — country-specific tariff detail.
The full system has 21 sections, 99 chapters and thousands of subheadings.
HS Sections & Chapters
| Section | Description | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| I | Live Animals, Animal Products | 01–05 |
| II | Vegetable Products | 06–14 |
| III | Animal, Vegetable & Microbial Fats and Oils | 15 |
| IV | Prepared Foodstuffs, Beverages, Spirits & Tobacco | 16–24 |
| V | Mineral Products | 25–27 |
| VI | Products of the Chemical & Allied Industries | 28–38 |
| VII | Plastics and Rubber | 39–40 |
| VIII | Raw Hides, Skins, Leather & Furskins | 41–43 |
| IX | Wood, Cork, Straw & Basketware | 44–46 |
| X | Pulp, Paper & Paperboard | 47–49 |
| XI | Textiles and Textile Articles | 50–63 |
| XII | Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas | 64–67 |
| XIII | Articles of Stone, Cement, Ceramics & Glass | 68–70 |
| XIV | Pearls, Precious Stones & Metals | 71 |
| XV | Base Metals and Articles Thereof | 72–83 |
| XVI | Machinery & Mechanical/Electrical Equipment | 84–85 |
| XVII | Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels & Transport | 86–89 |
| XVIII | Optical, Medical, Precision & Musical Instruments | 90–92 |
| XIX | Arms and Ammunition | 93 |
| XX | Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles (Furniture, Toys) | 94–96 |
| XXI | Works of Art, Collectors' Pieces & Antiques | 97 |
How to find the right HS code
Start with the two-digit chapter that best matches your product, then narrow to the four-digit heading and finally the six-digit subheading — the level that is standard worldwide. For example, roasted coffee sits in chapter 09 (coffee, tea & spices), heading 0901, subheading 0901.21. If a product could plausibly fall under more than one heading, check the wording of each: the Harmonized System classifies by material, function and stage of processing, so a finished good and its raw material usually sit in different chapters.
Getting the code right matters because duties, import rules and trade data are all organised around it. A wrong HS code can mean the wrong duty rate at customs — and, when searching trade data, the wrong set of shipments.
How importers and exporters use HS codes
In trade data, the HS code is the key that links a product to the companies moving it. Because every Bill of Lading and customs record carries an HS code, you can pull all shipments of a given product, rank the exporting and importing countries, and reach the specific suppliers or buyers behind those shipments. Analysts use the code to size a market and track volume trends. Sourcing teams use it to find and compare suppliers. Sales teams use it to build buyer lists for exactly what they sell.
Our trade datasets tag every shipment with its HS code, so you can find the exact importers and exporters trading any product — browse them by commodity or by country. ← Back to all resources