Yogurt; buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added fruit, nuts or cocoa (heading 0403): importing markets
HS heading 0403 covers yogurt, buttermilk, curdled milk, cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream. In 2025, Italy (782.7 million…
Published on 5 October 2026Updated on 5 October 2026
HS heading 0403 covers yogurt, buttermilk, curdled milk, cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream. In 2025, Italy (782.7 million USD), the United Kingdom (733.5 million USD) and the Netherlands (407.3 million USD) lead the declared imports table below. For a company exporting from Spain, the right subheading and the destination rules decide the duty and the paperwork.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 5 October 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0403
- Chapter
- 04 · Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
- Subheadings
- 3
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Italy | 782,653,361 |
| United Kingdom | 733,547,753 |
| Netherlands | 407,274,363 |
| Spain | 398,492,905 |
| Germany | 351,757,000 |
| France | 286,752,934 |
| Belgium | 280,454,721 |
| Portugal | 275,340,009 |
| Philippines | 172,679,459 |
| United States | 157,558,648 |
| Kuwait | 148,531,591 |
| Sweden | 141,572,238 |
| Hungary | 111,773,777 |
| Poland | 106,879,411 |
| Austria | 96,285,764 |
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 2025Verified on 5 October 2026
What to know before exporting HS 0403 from Spain
Heading 0403 belongs to chapter 04 of the Harmonized System, which groups dairy produce, birds' eggs and natural honey. It has three subheadings at the six-digit level. The first step is to classify your product in the right one, because duty, quotas and documents are set per subheading and, in many markets, per national tariff line.
The table shows that demand is concentrated in Europe. Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium and Portugal fill the top eight places. Imports declared by each country come from all origins, so they measure the size of the market, not your share of it. Spain itself appears as an importer, which is a reminder that these flows are also trade between neighbours.
The table also includes destinations outside Europe: the Philippines, the United States and Kuwait. Each applies its own rules to dairy, and those rules are usually stricter than for other food products. For a company exporting from Spain, the tariff depends on the subheading, the destination and the agreement in force. It is checked for each market in Access2Markets, and for EU member states in TARIC.
Shipments to other EU countries do not pay customs duty, but they do follow the sanitary and labelling rules for food of animal origin. For non-EU destinations, the importing country decides whether it accepts your product, which health certificate it requires and whether your plant must be registered or listed. Ask the importer or the competent authority of the destination before quoting, and keep the answer in writing.
Fresh fermented products have a short shelf life, and that shapes the choice of market. Transit time, cold chain and the remaining shelf life required on arrival weigh as much as the tariff. Compare them with the shelf life of your product before you pick a destination from the table.
The table reports 2025 data, the latest consolidated year, and countries report with a delay. Use it to shortlist markets, then check the unit values and the monthly trend before deciding where to invest sales effort.
Frequently asked questions
What products fall under HS 0403?
Heading 0403 covers yogurt, buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream. They may be concentrated, sweetened, flavoured, or contain fruit, nuts or cocoa. It has three subheadings, and the right one depends on the exact composition of your product.
Which countries import the most under HS 0403?
In 2025, according to UN Comtrade, the largest declared importers in the table are Italy (782.7 million USD), the United Kingdom (733.5 million USD) and the Netherlands (407.3 million USD). Spain, Germany, France, Belgium and Portugal follow. The figures are total imports from all origins, not the share held by Spanish exporters.
Where do I find the duty for exporting yogurt from Spain?
The duty depends on the subheading, the destination and the trade agreement in force. Access2Markets, the European Commission tool, gives the duty, rules of origin and requirements for each destination country. For imports into the EU, the reference is TARIC.
Do I pay customs duty when I sell fermented milk to another EU country?
No customs duty applies between EU member states. What still applies are the food safety, labelling and traceability rules for products of animal origin. Duties and border checks are relevant for destinations outside the EU, such as the United Kingdom, the Philippines or Kuwait.
Is the import table a list of buyers I can contact?
No. The table shows the total value of imports declared by each country, in USD, for 2025. It indicates where demand is concentrated, not who buys. To find buyers, look for distributors in the sector in each shortlisted market.
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