Cheese and curd (heading 0406): importing markets
HS heading 0406 covers cheese and curd, one of the headings of chapter 04 (dairy produce). In 2025, Germany, France and Italy were the three largest…
Published on 6 October 2026Updated on 6 October 2026
HS heading 0406 covers cheese and curd, one of the headings of chapter 04 (dairy produce). In 2025, Germany, France and Italy were the three largest importers according to UN Comtrade, with Germany declaring more than USD 6.8 billion. For a company exporting from Spain, the right subheading and the destination decide the tariff and the requirements.
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0406
- Chapter
- 04 · Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
- Subheadings
- 5
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 6,867,362,531 |
| France | 3,713,041,288 |
| Italy | 3,355,958,550 |
| United Kingdom | 2,999,797,621 |
| Netherlands | 2,544,260,369 |
| Spain | 2,366,135,363 |
| Belgium | 2,148,185,360 |
| United States | 1,699,081,959 |
| Japan | 1,347,443,117 |
| Mexico | 1,204,312,090 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1,065,123,036 |
| Sweden | 969,266,623 |
| Austria | 951,106,240 |
| China | 895,034,586 |
| Greece | 879,744,285 |
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 6 October 2026
What to know before exporting cheese and curd from Spain
HS heading 0406 is the code for cheese and curd. It belongs to chapter 04 and is divided into 5 subheadings at the international level, as shown in the fact sheet above. Classification at that level is shared by all countries that use the Harmonized System.
The tariff depends on the subheading and on the agreement in force with the destination. Customs authorities add further digits beyond the international six, and the duty is set at that more detailed level. For a company exporting from Spain, the duty for each destination is consulted in Access2Markets, entering the product code and the destination country.
The largest importers are mostly neighbours inside Europe. Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium all appear among the top importers in 2025. Part of that trade is movement between EU members, so it is worth separating those flows from purchases from outside the bloc when sizing a market.
Outside the EU, the table shows large markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Shipments to them are exports to third countries, with their own customs formalities and import rules. The United Kingdom and the United States, for example, no longer or never shared the EU single market, so each is checked separately.
Import volume is not the same as opportunity. The figures are what each country declares importing from the world, not from Spain. Before prioritising a market, compare it with Spain's own exports to that destination in UN Comtrade or ITC Trade Map, and look at which subheadings dominate.
Sanitary and labelling requirements are set by the destination. Cheese is a food of animal origin, so it is normally subject to veterinary and food-safety rules at import. The exact conditions for each country are checked in Access2Markets for EU exports, and with the destination's competent authority or the commercial office of Spain there.
Frequently asked questions
What does HS code 0406 cover?
HS 0406 covers cheese and curd. It is part of chapter 04, which groups dairy produce, birds' eggs, natural honey and other edible products of animal origin. The heading is divided into 5 subheadings, and the more detailed national codes are built on them.
Which countries import the most cheese and curd?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest importers by value are Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Germany leads with more than USD 6.8 billion declared. Countries report with a delay, so the latest consolidated year is used.
Where can a Spanish exporter check the tariff for cheese in a given country?
In Access2Markets, the European Commission's tool. You enter the product code, Spain as the origin and the destination country, and it shows the duty, the applicable trade agreement and the import requirements. The duty depends on the subheading and on the agreement in force.
Is the import figure for a country the amount it buys from Spain?
No. The figure is what each country declares importing from the whole world. To know how much it buys from Spain, look at the bilateral flow in UN Comtrade or ITC Trade Map, filtering by reporter, partner and product code.
Do exports of cheese to Germany or France need customs clearance?
Not in the usual sense. Spain, Germany and France belong to the EU single market, so goods move without customs duties or border customs clearance. Tax declarations and food-safety rules still apply, and they are checked with the tax authority (AEAT) and the competent health authority.
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