Milk and cream; concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter (heading 0402): importing markets
HS heading 0402 covers milk and cream that are concentrated or contain added sugar or other sweetening matter, such as milk powder. In 2024, China…
Published on 5 October 2026Updated on 5 October 2026
HS heading 0402 covers milk and cream that are concentrated or contain added sugar or other sweetening matter, such as milk powder. In 2024, China declared the largest imports of the heading, at about USD 2.36 billion, followed by Algeria and Mexico. For a company exporting from Spain, the demand map is wide and the requirements change by market.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2024Verified on 5 October 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0402
- Chapter
- 04 · Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
- Subheadings
- 5
Main importing markets
USD · 2024| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| China | 2,356,971,295 |
| Algeria | 1,404,711,065 |
| Mexico | 1,046,675,921 |
| Indonesia | 939,481,591 |
| Saudi Arabia | 881,276,106 |
| Netherlands | 729,047,928 |
| Germany | 725,551,016 |
| Brazil | 688,253,589 |
| Malaysia | 640,978,687 |
| Philippines | 633,504,942 |
| Belgium | 562,665,665 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 551,530,252 |
| Italy | 511,712,743 |
| Thailand | 507,027,579 |
| Oman | 458,675,318 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2024Verified on 5 October 2026
What to know before exporting heading 0402 from Spain
Heading 0402 sits in Chapter 04 of the Harmonized System and is split into 5 subheadings. The goods differ by form and by sweetening, so the first step is to classify your product at the full subheading level. The tariff, the quotas and the documents required are set at that level, not at the four-digit heading.
The import data show demand in several regions at once. In 2024, the table above places China, Algeria, Mexico, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia at the top, with Netherlands, Germany and Belgium also among the largest importers. Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the European Union all appear. A market strategy therefore starts with choosing a region, because the commercial and regulatory conditions differ between them.
The tariff you will pay depends on the subheading, the destination and the agreement in force between the EU and that country. For a company exporting from Spain, it is consulted in Access2Markets, entering the full code and the destination. Within the EU single market there is no import duty, but intra-EU trade is still declared for statistical and tax purposes.
Dairy products usually face sanitary and certification requirements that vary widely by country. Some markets require establishment approval or an official health certificate. Check the requirements of the importing country's authority for each destination, and ask your distributor or customs agent which documents they need before the first shipment.
Import figures are declared by each importing country and reported with a delay. They show how large a market is, not how accessible it is for your product. Use them to shortlist destinations, then compare the shortlisted ones on tariff, sanitary requirements and local competition.
Frequently asked questions
What does HS heading 0402 cover?
Heading 0402 covers milk and cream that are concentrated or contain added sugar or other sweetening matter. It belongs to Chapter 04 and has 5 subheadings. The exact classification of a product depends on its form and composition, so it is fixed at the subheading level.
Which countries import the most under heading 0402?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2024, the largest importers by declared value were China, Algeria, Mexico, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. China led with about USD 2.36 billion. Countries report with a delay, so the latest year with consolidated data is the reference.
How do I find the tariff for 0402 when exporting from Spain?
The tariff depends on the subheading and on the destination country, including any trade agreement with the EU. A company exporting from Spain can look it up in Access2Markets by entering the full product code and the destination market. The result shows duties and requirements for that specific case.
Do I pay import duty when selling 0402 products to Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands?
No customs duty applies to goods moving between EU member states, and Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are all in the single market. The sale is still subject to the usual tax and statistical declarations. Sanitary rules for dairy products must also be met.
Do import figures tell me which market is best for my product?
No. Import figures show the total size of demand, not how easy it is to enter. Tariffs, sanitary requirements and competition vary by country. Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then compare those markets on access conditions.
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