The HS code for tomato paste is 2002.90. These six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonized System. Each country then adds its own digits, and those extra digits, together with the origin of the goods, decide the import duty.
This guide covers the code itself, how the EU and the United States extend it, which code fits each Brix grade, and what an importer should check before the first shipment.
What the six digits mean
| Level | Code | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 20 | Preparations of vegetables, fruit and nuts |
| Heading | 2002 | Tomatoes prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid |
| Subheading | 2002.10 | Tomatoes, whole or in pieces |
| Subheading | 2002.90 | Other: tomato paste, purée and concentrate |
Tomato paste, double concentrate and triple concentrate all sit in 2002.90. The pack does not change the six digits: a 230 kg aseptic drum, a 400 g can and a 70 g sachet share the same subheading.
How countries extend 2002.90
The digits after the sixth are national. Two examples show how different the logic can be.
European Union. The EU splits 2002.90 by dry matter content, and in two bands also by pack size.
| EU code | Dry matter content | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 90 11 | Less than 12% | More than 1 kg |
| 2002 90 19 | Less than 12% | 1 kg or less |
| 2002 90 20 | 12% to 20% | Any |
| 2002 90 41 | More than 20%, up to 34% | More than 1 kg |
| 2002 90 49 | More than 20%, up to 34% | 1 kg or less |
| 2002 90 80 | More than 34% | Any |
United States. The US tariff has a specific line for tomato paste in containers holding less than 1.4 kg, 2002.90.80.10, with a general duty rate of 11.6%.
Other customs territories add their own digits. Your customs broker will know the full national code.
Which code fits which grade
Suppliers sell tomato paste by Brix. EU customs classifies it by dry matter. The two are close but not identical: Brix measures the dissolved solids, and dry matter also counts the insoluble ones, so it runs slightly higher.
For TOMEX grades, the expected EU codes are:
| Product | Pack | Expected EU code |
|---|---|---|
| Triple concentrate, 36–38% Brix | 230 kg aseptic drum | 2002 90 80 |
| Double concentrate, 28–30% Brix | 230 kg aseptic drum | 2002 90 41 |
| Canned paste, 22–24% or 28–30% Brix | 3 kg can | 2002 90 41 |
| Canned paste, 22–24% or 28–30% Brix | 400 g and 800 g cans | 2002 90 49 |
| Sachets, 28–30% Brix | 35 g, 50 g and 70 g | 2002 90 49 |
Treat this as a starting point. The customs authority of the importing country makes the final decision, based on the analysis of the goods. The Certificate of Analysis that ships with each batch states the Brix, which is the figure your broker needs.
What decides the import duty
Three things set the duty on a shipment of tomato paste:
- The national code. The full code in the importing country, as shown above.
- The origin. Goods from a country with a trade agreement can pay a lower rate, or none, when the right certificate of origin travels with them.
- Extra charges. Some countries add levies, or restrict certain pack types, on top of the tariff.
Public sources show how far markets differ. Rates change, so use these as a guide and confirm the current figure before you price a contract.
| Market | What public sources show |
|---|---|
| European Union | The rate depends on the 8-digit code and the origin. Several partner countries pay 0% under their agreements (EU tariff listing). Look up the rate for Egyptian origin in TARIC. |
| United States | 11.6% general rate for tomato paste in containers under 1.4 kg (HTS 2002.90.80.10). |
| Saudi Arabia | 5% is the standard rate for most goods. In June 2026 the rate on 51 food and farm tariff lines rose to between 5% and 15%. Goods of Arab (GAFTA) origin keep their preference with a valid certificate of origin (EY, 2026). |
| East African Community | Tomato paste is listed among the sensitive products charged the top band of 35% (EAC tariff guide). |
| Nigeria | In 2017 the duty on tomato concentrate rose from 5% to 50%, with a levy of US$1,500 per tonne, and retail-ready packs were banned (EPA Monitoring). Enforcement was still reported as uneven in 2024 (The Guardian Nigeria). |
Documents that support the right code and rate
A TOMEX shipment travels with a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, health certificate and the Certificate of Analysis for the batch. For classification and duty, three of them matter most:
- Commercial invoice with the HS code and a clear product description: grade, Brix and pack.
- Certificate of origin in the form the importing country's agreement requires. Ask your broker which form applies before the goods are loaded, because it cannot always be issued afterwards.
- Certificate of Analysis stating the Brix of the batch, which supports the dry-matter band where a tariff uses one.
Questions importers ask
Is the HS code for tomato paste the same as for ketchup? No. Tomato paste is 2002.90. Tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces are 2103.20, in a different chapter, and usually carry a different duty.
Do tomato purée and tomato concentrate use the same code? Yes, at six digits. All are 2002.90. Where a country splits the code by dry matter, as the EU does, a thin purée and a triple concentrate land on different national codes.
Does the pack change the code? Not the six digits. It can change the national digits: the EU separates packs of 1 kg or less from larger ones in two bands, and the US has its own line for containers under 1.4 kg.
Who decides the final code? The customs authority of the importing country. The importer declares the code, and in many countries can ask customs for a binding ruling before the first shipment.
Which code should the supplier print on the invoice? The six-digit code, 2002.90, is always safe. If you want the full national code on the documents, send it with your order.
Next step
Tell us the grade, the pack and your destination port, and the export team will quote with the documents your market needs. Request a quote, or ask for a sample with its Certificate of Analysis first.
Related pages: 36–38% Brix triple concentrate, 28–30% Brix double concentrate, 230 kg aseptic drums and shipping from Alexandria.
Tariff codes and rates checked on 7 October 2026. This guide is general information, not customs advice.
Sources
- EU codes under 2002 90, 2026
- EU code 2002 90 80 and partner-country rates
- HS 2002 and 2002.90 descriptions
- US HTS 2002.90.80.10
- Saudi Arabia duty revision, June 2026 (EY)
- EAC common external tariff bands
- Nigeria's 2017 tomato measures (EPA Monitoring)
- Nigeria policy status, October 2024 (The Guardian Nigeria)