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HSChapter 19
U.S. imports of tapioca and starch-based substitutes (flakes, pearls, and similar forms) (HS 190300) totaled $3.2M in April 2026, traded with 19 countries.
Importers of Tapioca and Starch-Based Substitutes (Flakes, Pearls, and Similar Forms) paid $90K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 6.8% on $1.3M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Tapioca and Starch-Based Substitutes (Flakes, Pearls, and Similar Forms) imports of $3.2M in April 2026 ran 20% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.7M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataTapioca pearls, flakes, and granules — along with analogous products made from arrowroot, cassava, or sago starch — are classified here based on their physical form rather than end use, covering both food-grade and industrial-grade starch preparations. The US schedule separates arrowroot-, cassava-, and sago-derived products (1903002000) from other starch-based substitutes (1903004000), a distinction that matters when the source starch is ambiguous. Taiwan and Thailand are the leading suppliers, with China, India, and Brazil also significant — a supply base concentrated in tropical starch-producing regions. The surge in bubble-tea consumption has made tapioca pearls a commercially prominent subset of this heading.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
The classification turns on the botanical source of the starch. Products derived from cassava (manioc), arrowroot, or sago fall under 1903002000, while tapioca-style products made from potato, corn, or other non-listed starches go to 1903004000. Importers should obtain supplier documentation identifying the starch source to support the correct line.
Tapioca pearls are regulated as a food product under FDA jurisdiction and are subject to standard food-safety admissibility review, including compliance with FDA's food-facility registration requirements and applicable food-additive standards. No special permit is required beyond standard FDA food-import procedures, but shipments from facilities with prior FDA import alerts may face automatic detention.
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903002000 | TAPIOCA/SUBSTITUTES, ARROWROOT/CASSAVA/SAGO STARCH | $2.4M | 9.53% | $43K |
| 1903004000 | TAPIOCA AND SUBSTITUTES PREPARED FROM STARCH NESOI | $886K | 5.37% | $48K |
TAPIOCA/SUBSTITUTES, ARROWROOT/CASSAVA/SAGO STARCH
TAPIOCA AND SUBSTITUTES PREPARED FROM STARCH NESOI
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1903000000 | TAPIOCA AND SUBSTITUTES FROM STARCH IN FLAKES, ETC | $403K |
TAPIOCA AND SUBSTITUTES FROM STARCH IN FLAKES, ETC
269.9K kg
Monthly import values over time
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1.3M | $22K | -$1.3M |
| New Jersey | $598K | $21K | -$578K |
| New York | $530K | -- | -$530K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $1.1M | -- | -$1.1M |
| NEWARK, NJ | $895K | -- | -$895K |
| OAKLAND, CA | $230K | -- | -$230K |