HS Code 1703Molasses; resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar
2 six-digit codes · Heading 3 of 4 in Chapter 17 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 1703 is the customs heading for molasses, the thick brown syrup left over when sugar is made. Use this page to choose between cane and beet molasses, then trace who trades it.
Heading 1703 splits exactly two ways. Goods answering to “Molasses; resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar” classify either at 170310 or at 170390, and the wording in the table below is the whole of what separates them. The heading is number 3 of 4 in Chapter 17, Sugars and sugar confectionery, which runs to 17 six-digit codes in all.
What HS code 1703 covers
Molasses is the dark, sticky syrup that is left after sugar is taken out of sugar cane or sugar beet. Customs gives this by-product a heading of its own, and that heading is 1703.
You may see people search for HSN code 1703 or HTS code 1703. At the four-digit level, these lookups lead to the same heading. The Harmonized System is the shared tariff classification that customs offices use to name goods in trade.
The heading sits in the sugar chapter, so it is a close neighbour of sugar itself, sugar syrups and sweets. For the wider picture, open the chapter page or browse all HS code chapters.
Difference between cane molasses and beet molasses HS code
Inside this heading there is one dividing line, and it is the plant the sugar came from. First confirm that the goods are molasses from sugar extraction or refining. Then ask whether the crop was cane or beet.
If the crop was sugar cane, the right code is 170310. If it was sugar beet, the right code is 170390. Nothing else changes the choice, so colour, thickness and packing do not matter here.
Your supplier's papers should name the crop. If they do not, ask before you file or quote, because a wrong code can cause delays at the border. Duty on molasses depends on the importing country, so check the rules of your destination market. The HS code only tells customs what the goods are.
Not sure about a product that is close to molasses but not quite the same? Try the HS code classifier.
How 1703 differs from other Chapter 17 headings
Sugar goods are easy to mix up. The test for molasses is simple: it is the liquid by-product of making sugar, not the sugar itself.
It also covers plain sugar syrups with no added flavour or colour, artificial honey and caramel.
Sweets are different again. Sugar confectionery, including white chocolate, that has no cocoa goes under HS 1704.
Find molasses importers and exporters
Once you know your code, you can look at who trades it. EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product.
Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.
To look at cane molasses or beet molasses, start with the import data or export data pages. You can also browse buyer data and supplier data. If you want to test it on your own product, you can book a free demo.
Who ships under 1703?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 2 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section IV: Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits, Tobacco, chapters 16–24.
HS Code 1703: common questions
What is HS code 1703?
It is the heading for molasses left over from making sugar. It has one code for cane and one for beet.
What is the HS code for cane molasses?
Use 170310.
What is the HS code for beet molasses?
Use 170390.
Is sugar syrup classified under 1703?
No. Plain sugar syrups belong to HS 1702. Heading 1703 is for molasses only.
Who imports molasses?
It differs from market to market. Use the import data and buyer data pages to see the companies behind the records.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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