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HSChapter 12
U.S. imports of vegetable seeds for sowing (HS 120991) totaled $33.8M in July 2026, traded with 53 countries.
Importers of Vegetable Seeds for Sowing paid $2.6M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 9.3% on $27.7M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Vegetable Seeds for Sowing imports of $33.8M in July 2026 ran 17% above the year-to-date monthly average of $28.8M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataVegetable seeds for sowing span more than twenty distinct US tariff lines under heading 120991, covering crops from cauliflower and broccoli to tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and pepper — each classified by species rather than by variety or hybrid status. Chile is the leading US supplier, a position built on its counter-seasonal growing conditions and long-standing role as a seed multiplication hub for Northern Hemisphere vegetable breeders. France and the Netherlands are also significant sources, reflecting Europe's concentration of major vegetable seed companies. USDA APHIS phytosanitary inspection applies at entry, and seed lots must comply with the Federal Seed Act's labeling and purity requirements before commercial distribution.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
521 shipments/mo
Chile's counter-seasonal climate relative to the Northern Hemisphere allows seed companies based in Europe and North America to multiply seed during the Northern Hemisphere's off-season, accelerating breeding cycles and ensuring year-round supply. Its dry summers in key growing regions also reduce disease pressure during seed maturation, improving seed quality and germination rates. This makes Chile a preferred multiplication destination for many major vegetable seed companies.
The US schedule assigns separate 10-digit lines to broccoli (1209918005), green cabbage (1209918008), other cabbage (1209918009), kale (1209918045), and kohlrabi (1209918047). Correct classification requires species and crop identification on the commercial invoice and phytosanitary certificate. Mixed brassica seed lots or mislabeled shipments risk reclassification at entry; importers should ensure supplier documentation specifies the exact crop type. Consult a licensed customs broker for classification guidance on complex lots.
ImportsExports
Imports
$33.8MYoY · Pro
Exports
$33.4MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
17.9% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 7.63%.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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.
Subheading 1 of 10 in heading 1209
Subheading 120991 · $33.8M of $43.9M
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