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HSChapter 18
U.S. imports of cocoa paste, not defatted (HS 180310) totaled $65.3M in April 2026, traded with 20 countries.
Importers of Cocoa Paste, Not Defatted paid $84K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $837K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Cocoa Paste, Not Defatted imports of $65.3M in April 2026 ran 45% below the year-to-date monthly average of $118.7M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCocoa paste (also called cocoa liquor or cocoa mass) in its non-defatted form retains the full natural fat content of the cocoa bean after grinding, making it the primary intermediate for both chocolate manufacturing and cocoa butter extraction. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana together supply the majority of US imports under this heading, a concentration that reflects West Africa's dominance in primary cocoa processing capacity. Classified under a single US tariff line (1803100000), the product's duty exposure is straightforward, but importers should confirm FDA compliance for food-grade cocoa paste, including heavy-metal testing protocols increasingly required by buyers in the confectionery sector. As a processed food ingredient, FDA prior notice and labeling requirements apply.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Cocoa paste (180310) is the ground product of the whole cocoa nib and contains both cocoa solids and cocoa butter in their natural proportions — typically around 50–55% fat. Cocoa butter, classified under heading 1804, is the fat fraction separated from the paste by hydraulic pressing or solvent extraction. If a supplier labels a product as 'cocoa liquor' or 'cocoa mass,' it is the same commodity as cocoa paste and should be classified under 180310 provided it has not been defatted.
Beyond FDA's standard food-safety oversight, many US chocolate manufacturers contractually require suppliers to provide certificates of analysis covering cadmium and lead content, as regulatory limits on heavy metals in cocoa products are an active area of FDA and state-level scrutiny. Importers should request lot-specific heavy-metal test results from the exporting processor and retain them as part of the import record. Consulting a licensed customs broker or food-safety regulatory specialist is advisable for first-time importers.
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Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTE D'IVOIRE | $21.3M | -- | -$21.3M |
| ECUADOR | $19.2M | -- | -$19.2M |
| CANADA | $227K | $13.9M | +$13.6M |
| MALAYSIA | $12.0M | -- | -$12.0M |
| GHANA | $8.0M | -- | -$8.0M |
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1803100000 | COCOA PASTE, NOT DEFATTED | $65.3M | 10.00% | $84K |
COCOA PASTE, NOT DEFATTED
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1803100000 | COCOA PASTE, NOT DEFATTED | $14.4M |
COCOA PASTE, NOT DEFATTED
2.8M kg
COCOA BEANS, WHOLE OR BROKEN, RAW OR ROASTED
HS 180100
COCOA PREPARATIONS, NOT IN BULK FORM, NESOI
HS 180690
CHOCOLATE PREP NESOI, IN BLOCKS ETC. OVER 2 KG
HS 180620
CHOCOLATE & OTHR COCOA PREPS, NOT BULK, NOT FILLED
HS 180632
COCOA BUTTER, FAT AND OIL
HS 180400
COCOA POWDER, NOT SWEETENED
HS 180500
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $36.8M | $4.1M | -$32.6M |
| Illinois | $14.4M | $788K | -$13.6M |
| Pennsylvania | $5.7M | $9.2M | +$3.6M |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK, NJ | $25.5M | $4K | -$25.5M |
| BALTIMORE, MD | $16.5M | -- | -$16.5M |
| BUFFALO-NIAGARA FALLS, NY | -- | $8.3M | +$8.3M |