Molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar — HTS 1703
Molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar
Chapter 17 › Heading 1703
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 1703 covers molasses obtained from extracting or refining sugar. It is a broad 4-digit category, not the final tariff classification for an import entry. Products may be grouped here based on what they are and how they were produced, rather than simply by their brand name or intended use.
To reach the specific 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the product is actually sugar-extraction or sugar-refining molasses and not another sweetener, syrup, flavoring preparation, or food mixture. Then review the applicable subheadings and statistical breakouts, which commonly distinguish the material or type of molasses and may require product details shown in the official HTSUS description. The importer remains responsible for confirming the classification; a customs broker or binding ruling may be appropriate when the facts are unclear.
What to check
- Obtain the product specification, ingredient statement, manufacturing description, and certificate of analysis before classifying it.
- Confirm the source and production process: identify whether the liquid results from extracting or refining sugar and what sugar material was involved.
- Check the full HTSUS subheading text and 8-digit statistical breakout; do not stop at heading 1703 or rely only on a product name such as “molasses.”
- Determine whether added ingredients, flavoring, blending, or packaging as a prepared food changes the classification analysis.
- Keep records supporting the selected code, and ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling if the product could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 1703 summary
Molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar is a 4-digit product category containing 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 1703.10 | Cane molasses |
| 1703.90 | Other |
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 1703?
Molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar. 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.