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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 July 2026, traded with 23 countries.
Importers of Tapioca and Starch-Based Substitutes (Flakes, Pearls, and Similar Forms) paid $93K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 6.8% on $1.4M 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 July 2026 ran 11% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.9M.
Last updated: July 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.
323 shipments/mo
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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Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 1903
Subheading 190300 · $3.2M of $3.2M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903002000 | Tapioca/Substitutes, Arrowroot/Cassava/Sago Starch | $2.3M | 2.56% | 26.00% | $58K |
| 1903004000 | Tapioca and Substitutes Prepared From Starch NESOI | $928K | 3.76% | 84.49% | $35K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1903000000 | Tapioca and Substitutes From Starch in Flakes, Etc | $353K |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$353KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Taiwan and Thailand together supply 71% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
57.1% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 2.91%.