Locust beans — HTS 1212
Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety Cichorium intybus sativum) of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included
Chapter 12 › Heading 1212
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 1212 is a broad product category for certain plant-based food materials. It groups locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, and similar products when they are fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, or ground. It also covers fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products used mainly for human consumption, including certain unroasted chicory roots, when no more specific HTS provision applies.
To narrow a product to a specific 8-digit U.S. HTS code, first identify the exact material and its form or condition. The subheadings may distinguish products by type—such as seaweed versus locust bean—or by characteristics such as whether the product is whole, ground, processed, or otherwise prepared. Classification follows the heading and subheading wording, the General Rules of Interpretation, and any relevant legal notes; the final digits provide more detailed U.S. statistical classification. A customs broker or ruling request may be appropriate when the product has multiple ingredients or processing steps.
What to check
- Confirm the product’s botanical or common identity, and obtain the scientific name when the material could fit more than one plant category.
- Document the condition at import: fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, ground, roasted, extracted, or otherwise processed.
- Check whether the product is primarily for human consumption and whether another HTS heading describes it more specifically.
- Review the complete 8-digit subheading text and any exclusions, chapter notes, and U.S. statistical suffix requirements.
- Compare the classification against the product specification, ingredient list, processing description, packaging, and commercial invoices; seek broker or Customs guidance if they do not align.
HTS heading 1212 summary
Locust beans is a 4-digit product category containing 6 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1212.99 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1212.21.00.00 👉 | Fit for human consumption | Free | — | Free |
| 1212.29.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
| 1212.91.00.00 👉 | Sugar beet | 39.7¢/t | Free | 88.2¢/t |
| 1212.92.00.00 👉 | Locust beans (carob) | Free | — | 4.4¢/kg |
| 1212.93.00.00 👉 | Sugar cane | $1.24/t | Free | $2.76/t |
| 1212.94.00.00 👉 | Chicory roots | Free | — | 4.4¢/kg |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 1212?
Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety Cichorium intybus sativum) of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.