U.S. exports of melon seeds (HS 120770) totaled $5.6M in August 2026.
Importers of Melon Seeds paid $41K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 1.55% of the $2.7M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule. Melon Seeds imports of $2.7M in August 2026 ran 35% below the year-to-date monthly average of $4.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataMelon seeds for planting or processing are split at the 10-digit level into cantaloupe seeds (1207700020), watermelon seeds (1207700040), and other melon seeds (1207700075) — a granularity that reflects the distinct commercial seed markets for each crop type. Chile and Peru are the leading suppliers to the US, consistent with their roles as major vegetable seed exporters in the Southern Hemisphere. Seed-for-sowing shipments require USDA APHIS phytosanitary certification and may be subject to additional plant quarantine conditions depending on origin; consult a licensed customs broker or APHIS for current admissibility requirements.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
33 shipments/mo
Melon seeds intended for sowing and those used for food or oil processing both fall under heading 1207.70 in the US schedule. Unlike some other oilseed headings where sowing-use creates a separate classification, the 10-digit lines here differentiate by melon type (cantaloupe, watermelon, other) rather than by end use.
Both countries have well-developed seed multiplication industries that take advantage of their counter-seasonal growing conditions relative to the Northern Hemisphere, allowing US seed companies to produce and import planting stock in time for domestic spring planting seasons. Established phytosanitary protocols with USDA APHIS also facilitate regular trade flows.
HSChapter 12
Subheading 2 of 10 in heading 1207
Subheading 120770 · $5.6M of $17.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$5.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $39.5M of Melon Seeds.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and Netherlands together take 46% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
17.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 1.55% of total import value.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1207700040 | Watermelon Seeds, Whether or not Broken | $1.7M | 2.36% | 73.32% | $39K |
| 1207700075 | Melon Seed, NESOI, Whether or not Broken | $988K | 0.04% | 96.89% | $353 |
| 1207700020 | Cantaloupe Seeds, Whether or not Broken | $15K | 11.39% | 100.00% | $2K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1207700040 | Watermelon Seeds, Whether or not Broken | $4.3M |
| 1207700075 | Melon Seed, NESOI, Whether or not Broken | $1.1M |
| 1207700020 | Cantaloupe Seeds, Whether or not Broken | $237K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Trade Directory
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