HS Code for Peanuts
Raw peanuts (groundnuts) are classified under HTSUS heading 1202, while roasted peanuts and peanut butter point toward subheading 2008.11. Peanuts are a tariff-rate quota product: nearly every peanut line has an in-quota version with a low specific rate and an over-quota version with a very high ad valorem rate. Within heading 1202 the form also matters (seed, in shell, or shelled and whether dry-blanched). Confirming the form, the processing and the quota status is the first step in exploring the most appropriate code.
HTS Codes for Peanuts
| HTS Code | Description | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1202.30.40.00 | Peanuts, seed, described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 (in-quota) Raw peanuts for sowing entered within the tariff-rate quota | 6.6¢/kg |
| 1202.30.80.00 | Peanuts, seed, other (over-quota) Raw seed peanuts entered outside the tariff-rate quota | 131.8% |
| 1202.41.40.40 | Peanuts in shell, described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 (in-quota), other than oil stock Raw in-shell peanuts entered within the quota, not for crushing | 9.35¢/kg |
| 1202.41.80.40 | Peanuts in shell, other (over-quota), other than oil stock Raw in-shell peanuts entered outside the quota | 163.8% |
| 1202.42.15.40 | Peanuts, shelled, dry-blanched, described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 (in-quota), other than oil stock Raw dry-blanched peanut kernels entered within the quota | 6.6¢/kg |
| 1202.42.20.40 | Peanuts, shelled, dry-blanched, other (over-quota), other than oil stock Raw dry-blanched peanut kernels entered outside the quota | 131.8% |
| 1202.42.60.40 | Peanuts, shelled, not blanched, described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 (in-quota), other than oil stock Raw shelled peanut kernels (groundnuts) entered within the quota | 6.6¢/kg |
| 1202.42.90.40 | Peanuts, shelled, not blanched, other (over-quota), other than oil stock Raw shelled peanut kernels entered outside the quota | 131.8% |
| 2008.11.05.00 | Peanut butter and paste, described in additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 20 (in-quota) Peanut butter and peanut paste entered within its tariff-rate quota | Free |
| 2008.11.15.00 | Peanut butter and paste, other (over-quota) Peanut butter and peanut paste entered outside the quota | 131.8% |
| 2008.11.46.00 | Peanuts, prepared or preserved (other than peanut butter), described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 (in-quota) Roasted, salted or coated peanuts entered within the quota | 6.6¢/kg |
| 2008.11.61.00 | Peanuts, prepared or preserved (other than peanut butter), other (over-quota) Roasted, salted or coated peanuts entered outside the quota | 131.8% |
How to Approach Classification for Peanuts
Peanuts that are not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken, point toward heading 1202 of the HTSUS. The heading splits first into seed peanuts (1202.30) and other peanuts, which divide into peanuts in shell (1202.41) and shelled peanuts (1202.42). Shelled peanuts then separate dry-blanched kernels from other shelled kernels.
The defining feature of peanut classification is the tariff-rate quota. Under each form the HTSUS provides lines for peanuts described in general note 15, lines for peanuts described in additional U.S. note 2 to chapter 12 and entered under its provisions (the in-quota lines), and an 'Other' line for everything outside the quota. In-quota raw peanuts carry specific rates such as 6.6¢/kg or 9.35¢/kg, while the over-quota lines carry ad valorem rates of 131.8% or 163.8%. The quota status therefore matters far more for the estimated duty than the physical form.
The 10-digit statistical suffixes add one more split for raw peanuts in shell and shelled: peanuts for use as oil stock (suffix 20) are reported separately from other peanuts (suffix 40). Peanuts destined for crushing into oil are worth identifying at this step.
Roasting or other cooking moves peanuts out of chapter 12 and into subheading 2008.11. Peanut butter and paste have their own lines there, with an in-quota line under additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 20 and an over-quota line, and other prepared peanuts (roasted, salted, coated) follow the chapter 12 quota with their own in-quota and over-quota lines. A practical sequence is to confirm whether the peanuts are raw or roasted, then the form, then the quota status.
Duty Rate Overview
Duty treatment for peanuts depends mainly on the tariff-rate quota. In-quota raw peanuts carry specific rates around 6.6¢/kg for seed and shelled peanuts and 9.35¢/kg for peanuts in shell, and in-quota roasted peanuts around 6.6¢/kg, while in-quota peanut butter and paste enters at a general rate of Free. Over the quota the rates jump to around 131.8% for seed, shelled and prepared peanuts and peanut butter, and around 163.8% for peanuts in shell. Several free trade agreements provide preferential treatment, and the over-quota lines also cross-reference chapter 99 provisions (9904.12) that may add further duties.
These are general (MFN) rates only. Additional duties under Section 301 or IEEPA-based measures may apply depending on origin, and peanuts are subject to FDA food facility registration and prior notice, with raw peanuts potentially subject to USDA requirements. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.