Section IV · Foodstuffs, Beverages & Tobacco · Chapter 18
Cocoa and cocoa preparations
About chapter 18
Chapter 18 covers cocoa and cocoa preparations: cocoa beans, cocoa paste, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and chocolate in all its forms. Chocolate confectionery stays in this chapter rather than chapter 17, even though it's a candy product, because cocoa content is the defining classification factor.
Classification tip: Cocoa content percentage and whether the product is sweetened both affect the subheading, so check the ingredient breakdown before classifying a chocolate product.
11 six-digit codes
Cocoa beans; whole or broken, raw or roasted
1 code1801.00Cocoa beans; whole or broken, raw or roasted
Cocoa; shells, husks, skins and other cocoa waste
1 code1802.00Cocoa; shells, husks, skins and other cocoa waste
Cocoa; paste; whether or not defatted
2 codes1803.10Cocoa; paste, not defatted1803.20Cocoa; paste, wholly or partly defatted
Cocoa; butter, fat and oil
1 code1804.00Cocoa; butter, fat and oil
Cocoa; powder, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
1 code1805.00Cocoa; powder, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa
5 codes1806.10Cocoa; powder, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter1806.20Chocolate & other food preparations containing cocoa; in blocks, slabs or bars weighing more than 2kg or in liquid, paste, powder, granular or other bulk form in containers or immediate packings, content exceeding 2kg1806.31Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa; in blocks, slabs or bars, filled, weighing 2kg or less1806.32Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa; in blocks, slabs or bars, (not filled), weighing 2kg or less1806.90Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa; n.e.c. in chapter 18
More chapters in section IV: Foodstuffs, Beverages & Tobacco
- 16Meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other…
- 17Sugars and sugar confectionery
- 19Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or…
- 20Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or…
- 21Miscellaneous edible preparations
- 22Beverages, spirits and vinegar
- 23Food industries, residues and wastes thereof
- 24Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
Codes and descriptions follow the WCO six-digit Harmonized System nomenclature. National tariff schedules extend these to 8–13 digits and set the actual duty rate, so confirm the full code for your destination country with your customs broker before filing. To copy a code, hover a row and use the copy button; every code has 1801-style dot notation ready for your commercial invoice.
Chapter 18 FAQ
What does HS code chapter 18 cover?
Chapter 18 of the Harmonized System covers: cocoa and cocoa preparations. It belongs to section IV (Foodstuffs, Beverages & Tobacco) and contains 6 four-digit headings, 1801–1806.
How many HS codes are in chapter 18?
Chapter 18 contains 6 four-digit headings and 11 six-digit subheadings. Countries subdivide these further (8–13 digits) in their national tariff schedules, so the full national count is larger.
Is HS code 1801 the same in every country?
Yes. The six-digit level of every code in this chapter is harmonised by the World Customs Organization and identical in all member countries. Digits beyond the sixth (for example the US 10-digit HTS or the EU 8-digit CN) are national and set the actual duty rate.
How do I choose the right code within chapter 18?
Work from the four-digit heading down: pick the heading that best matches your product, then the six-digit subheading that matches its material, form or processing. If two codes seem to fit, customs rules (the General Rules of Interpretation) decide, and when in doubt, confirm with your customs broker before filing.