Find product HS Code and trade information for flour mill

Flour Mill

A flour mill is a facility used for grinding grain into flour. Historically powered by water or wind, modern flour mills typically utilize electric motors. They are central to food production, converting raw grains into a staple ingredient for a wide variety of products.

Materials

The construction of flour mills varies based on scale and era.

• Traditional Mills: Primarily used wood, stone (for grinding stones), and iron. Water wheels and sails were constructed from wood, often with metal reinforcements.
• Modern Mills: Utilize steel for the majority of the structure, with specialized alloys for grinding components to withstand wear and tear. Concrete is also common for foundations and large structures. Grinding is now done with steel rollers, though some specialty mills still use stone.

Purpose

The primary purpose of a flour mill is to efficiently and consistently grind grain – typically wheat, but also rye, corn, oats, barley, and other cereals – into flour of varying grades and qualities. This process involves breaking down the endosperm of the grain, separating it from the bran and germ.

Function

The core function of a flour mill involves several stages:

1. Cleaning: Removing impurities like stones, weed seeds, and other foreign materials from the grain.
2. Conditioning: Adjusting the moisture content of the grain to optimize the grinding process and flour yield. This often involves adding water.
3. Grinding/Milling: Breaking the grain kernels into smaller particles through repeated crushing and rolling. Different methods are employed depending on the desired flour type.
4. Sifting/Bolting: Separating the flour from the bran and germ using sieves of varying mesh sizes. This produces different grades of flour.
5. Purification (Optional): Removing remaining bran particles and improving flour whiteness.
6. Blending (Optional): Combining different flour streams to achieve specific protein content, ash content, and baking properties.

Usage Scenarios

• Commercial Bakeries: Large-scale flour mills provide flour for mass production of bread, pastries, and other baked goods.
• Food Processing Industry: Flour is a key ingredient in numerous processed foods, including pasta, noodles, sauces, and snacks.
• Animal Feed Production: Lower grades of flour and by-products are often used in animal feed.
• Home Baking: Small-scale mills are used by home bakers and hobbyists for grinding their own flour.
• Local Grain Processing: Smaller mills serve local farmers and communities, processing regionally grown grains.

Common Types

• Water Mills: Historically powered by the flow of water, using a water wheel to drive the grinding mechanism. Becoming less common but still used in some locations.
• Windmills: Powered by wind energy, utilizing sails to rotate grinding stones. Also decreasing in prevalence but maintained for heritage and niche applications.
• Roller Mills: The most common type of modern flour mill. Utilize steel rollers to crush and grind the grain. Allow for precise control of particle size and flour quality.
• Stone Mills: Utilize stone grinding stones to crush the grain. Produce a flour with a different texture and flavor profile, often preferred for artisanal baking. Can be slow and less efficient than roller mills.
• Hammer Mills: Utilize rotating hammers to crush the grain. Often used for coarser grinds and specialized applications.
• Disc Mills: Utilize rotating discs to grind the grain. Suitable for a range of grain types and particle sizes.

Flour mills are machines used in the milling industry for working cereals or dried leguminous vegetables. Based on the provided information, the following HS codes are relevant:

• 8437800010: This HS code falls under Chapter 84 ("Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof") and specifically covers machines for cleaning, sorting or grading seed, grain or dried leguminous vegetables, and parts thereof; machinery used in the milling industry or for the working of cereals or dried leguminous vegetables, other than farm type machinery; parts thereof – Flour mill and grain mill machines. The '84' indicates machinery, '37' specifies machinery for agricultural processing, and '800010' further defines it as flour mill and grain mill machines. The total tax rate is 55.0%, comprised of a 0.0% base tariff and a 25.0% additional tariff, increasing to 30.0% after April 2, 2025.
• 8437800090: This HS code also falls under Chapter 84 and covers machines for cleaning, sorting or grading seed, grain or dried leguminous vegetables, and parts thereof; machinery used in the milling industry or for the working of cereals or dried leguminous vegetables, other than farm type machinery; parts thereof – Other machinery. The '84' indicates machinery, '37' specifies machinery for agricultural processing, and '800090' defines it as other machinery within this category. The total tax rate is 55.0%, comprised of a 0.0% base tariff and a 25.0% additional tariff, increasing to 30.0% after April 2, 2025.

Regarding both HS codes 8437800010 and 8437800090, please note that the additional tariff will increase to 30.0% after April 2, 2025.