Plants and parts of plants (including seeds and fruits), of a kind used primarily in perfumery, in pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not cut, crushed or powdered (heading 1211): importing markets
HS heading 1211 covers plants and parts of plants used mainly in perfumery, pharmacy or as insecticides and fungicides, fresh or dried. Germany and the…
Published on 3 November 2026Updated on 3 November 2026
HS heading 1211 covers plants and parts of plants used mainly in perfumery, pharmacy or as insecticides and fungicides, fresh or dried. Germany and the United States are the two largest importers in the UN Comtrade data for 2025, followed by Japan and China. For a company exporting from Spain, the right subheading decides tariff, documents and market access.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 3 November 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 1211
- Chapter
- 12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
- Subheadings
- 7
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 787,634,831 |
| United States | 511,225,293 |
| Japan | 341,252,318 |
| China | 337,470,136 |
| India | 182,573,679 |
| Australia | 168,365,820 |
| France | 158,034,515 |
| Portugal | 128,484,886 |
| United Kingdom | 128,185,793 |
| Spain | 123,228,466 |
| South Korea | 121,301,928 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 119,442,015 |
| Italy | 114,703,425 |
| Poland | 111,461,907 |
| Canada | 108,481,651 |
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 3 November 2026
What to know before exporting heading 1211
Heading 1211 groups plants, parts of plants, seeds and fruits of a kind used mainly in perfumery, pharmacy or for insecticidal and fungicidal purposes. It sits in chapter 12 and is divided into 7 subheadings. The goods can be fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whole, cut, crushed or powdered.
The first task is to classify the product at subheading level. Each of the 7 subheadings covers a different type of plant, and tariff treatment, documents and controls are attached to the subheading, not to the four-digit heading. A wrong subheading in the customs declaration can change the duty paid and delay clearance.
The market data shows a concentrated demand. In 2025, Germany reported the highest imports of the heading in the table above, ahead of the United States, Japan and China. Several European markets also appear in the list, including France, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Spain itself. For a company exporting from Spain, these EU destinations are shipments within the single market, so there is no customs duty between them.
For destinations outside the EU, the duty depends on the subheading and on the agreement in force between the EU and the destination. It can be checked by code and country in Access2Markets, the European Commission tool for exporters. The EU's own import tariff is in TARIC, but that applies to goods entering the EU, not to exports.
Plants in this heading are often subject to sanitary or phytosanitary rules, and some species fall under additional regimes. Whether a given product needs a phytosanitary certificate, a species-specific permit or other documents depends on the plant, the form in which it is shipped and the destination. Access2Markets lists product requirements by country, and the destination's authority has the final say.
The import figures are declared by each importing country and reflect the latest year with consolidated data. They show where demand is, not how accessible each market is or what margins exist. Use them to build a shortlist, then check requirements country by country.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 3 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
What products fall under HS 1211?
HS 1211 covers plants and parts of plants, including seeds and fruits, of a kind used mainly in perfumery, pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes. They may be fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whole, cut, crushed or powdered. The heading has 7 subheadings, and the exact plant determines which one applies.
Which countries import the most under HS 1211?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest importers by value are Germany, the United States, Japan and China, in that order. India, Australia, France and Portugal follow. These are figures declared by each importing country, and countries report with a delay.
Do I pay customs duty when exporting HS 1211 from Spain to Germany?
No. Germany is in the EU single market, so goods moving from Spain to Germany do not pay customs duty. Shipments to the United States, Japan, China or other non-EU markets do face import duty, which depends on the subheading and on the trade agreement in force. It can be checked by code and country in Access2Markets.
How do I find the import requirements for a specific market?
Enter the full product code and the destination country in Access2Markets. It shows tariffs, rules of origin, product requirements and procedures for that pair. Since requirements vary by subheading and by the plant itself, check the result against the destination country's official authority before shipping.
Is a phytosanitary certificate always required for HS 1211?
Not always. It depends on the plant, whether it is fresh or dried, how it is processed and the rules of the destination country. Dried and powdered products are often treated differently from fresh plant material. Check the requirement for your exact product and market in Access2Markets and with the Spanish plant health authorities.
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