U.S. imports of Vegetable Seeds (NES) (SITC 29254) totaled $37.6M in August 2026, imported from 55 countries.
Importers of Vegetable Seeds (NES) paid $768K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.04% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Vegetable Seeds (NES) imports of $37.6M in August 2026 ran 26% above the year-to-date monthly average of $29.9M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataVegetable seeds not elsewhere specified — spanning crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce, and dozens of other market-garden species — are a foundational input for both commercial agriculture and home gardening, with trade driven by variety performance, disease resistance, and hybrid seed technology. USDA APHIS phytosanitary requirements govern importation, and the Federal Seed Act mandates germination rate, purity, and origin labeling for all seed entering US commerce. Seed-borne pathogen risk is a key compliance concern, particularly for solanaceous crops where bacterial and viral diseases can be introduced through contaminated seed lots. Importers should be aware that plant variety protection and utility patents cover many elite hybrid varieties, requiring licensing agreements before commercial importation and resale.
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573 import shipments a month
Genetically modified vegetable seed varieties must be deregulated by USDA APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services before they can be imported for planting or sale in the US. Importers must confirm that the specific GM event in the seed lot has received US regulatory approval and should retain documentation of that approval. Seed lots containing unapproved GM events are subject to refusal of entry.
Phytosanitary certificates for vegetable seed typically must attest to freedom from specific seed-borne pathogens relevant to the crop species — not just general pest freedom. For high-value crops like tomato or pepper seed, exporting country plant protection organizations may conduct laboratory testing and include specific pest-freedom declarations on the certificate. USDA APHIS may also require additional testing or treatment upon arrival if the shipment originates from a region with known disease concerns.
Basic heading 25 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 29254 · $37.6M of $3.8B
Imports · August 2026
origin
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$37.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$25.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $357.7M of Vegetable Seeds (NES) and exported $606.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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