Market map · UN Comtrade 2024
Vegetable seed import markets: HS 1209 vs HS 1209 91 market map (2024)
Data retrieved 2026-10-23 from UN Comtrade · Jurisdictions: each reporting country · Last reviewed 2026-10-23 by SeedMatch Group
Short answer
In the 2024 data, the largest vegetable-seed (HS 1209 91) importers outside the EU were Mexico, the United States, China and Canada. Among the markets ranked below, the fastest growth was in Brazil (about +44%), South Africa (+40%), Kenya (+39%, from a small base) and Morocco (+28%). HS 1209 also covers forage, beet and flower seed, so it should not be read as vegetable-seed demand. For SeedMatch buyers we rank Mexico, Morocco and Brazil first: they combine size or growth, varied supply origins and import rules we verified on official sites.
These are customs values reported by each country. They are a proxy for cross-border demand, not market size, certified-seed volume or current prices.
What HS 1209 covers, and what it does not
HS 1209 is the heading for seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing. Only subheading 1209 91 is vegetable seed.
- 1209 10 — Sugar beet seed, of a kind used for sowing
- 1209 21–29 — Seeds of forage plants: lucerne (alfalfa), clover, fescue, Kentucky blue grass, rye grass, timothy and other forage seed
- 1209 30 — Seeds of herbaceous plants cultivated principally for their flowers
- 1209 91 — Vegetable seeds, of a kind used for sowing
- 1209 99 — Other seeds, fruit and spores for sowing not elsewhere in heading 1209
Sowing seed classified outside HS 1209
- 1005 10 — Maize (corn), seed
- 1001 11 / 1001 91 — Wheat and meslin seed (durum / other than durum)
- 1201 10 — Soya beans, seed
- 1202 30 — Ground-nuts, seed
- 0701 10 — Seed potatoes
Opportunity ranking for commercial seed buyers
We rank the markets on five criteria, in order:
- 2024 vegetable-seed import value.
- Change from 2023.
- How spread out the supply origins are.
- Whether we verified the official import rules.
- Whether those rules restrict who may import or which varieties may be sold.
Tiers are editorial judgements on that evidence, not forecasts.
- 1.
Mexico
Priority 1Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $478.2m (-0.6% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $586.5m (-0.1%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- United States 15%, Thailand 15%, Peru 10%
Why: Largest vegetable-seed importer in the 2024 data outside the Netherlands. Imports come from many origins: the top three supply about 40%.
Watch: Value was flat year on year.
Official requirements: SNICS handles seed certification and the variety catalogue; SENASICA handles phytosanitary entry requirements. Mexico seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; authorities verified on official sites.
- 2.
Morocco
Priority 1Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $129.9m (+28.1% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $147.1m (+29.9%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- Guatemala 13%, Peru 12%, Kenya 11%
Why: Strongest growth among the larger importers: about +28% in 2024, with diversified origins (top three about 35%).
Watch: Leading partner origins include Guatemala, Peru and Kenya. These partners are reported origins, which can be seed-production locations rather than the breeder's home country.
Official requirements: ONSSA: approved importing establishment, and variety on the official catalogue or provisional lists. Morocco seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; ONSSA rules verified.
- 3.
Brazil
Priority 1Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $121.1m (+44.5% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $138.7m (+39.1%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- South Africa 16%, Argentina 11%, India 11%
Why: Vegetable-seed imports rose about 44% in 2024, with diversified origins (top three about 38%).
Watch: Strict eligibility gate: importer registration and cultivar listing come before any offer comparison.
Official requirements: MAPA: importer registered in RENASEM, cultivar on the RNC, import licence in Siscomex. Brazil seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; MAPA rules verified.
- 4.
Türkiye
Priority 2Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $110.9m (-2.6% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $179.8m (+11.4%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- China 13%, Thailand 11%, Peru 10%
Why: Large market (about USD 111 million of vegetable seed in 2024) with diversified origins (top three about 34%).
Watch: Slight decline in 2024. Prior import permission is granted only to companies authorised for the species.
Official requirements: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: prior import permission (circular 2019/1) and the Plant Quarantine Regulation. Türkiye seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; circular and regulation verified (Turkish-language texts).
- 5.
India
Priority 2Evidence confidence: Medium- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $130.0m (-0.9% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $169.0m (0.0%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- Italy 19%, Chile 14%, United States 9%
Why: Large and stable market (about USD 130 million in 2024).
Watch: Flat year on year. Plant-quarantine permits are required in advance; seed-legislation obligations were not reviewed here.
Official requirements: PPQS import permit under the PQ Order 2003 for listed commodities. India seed compliance guide
2024 data; quarantine rules verified, seed-law requirements not reviewed.
- 6.
South Africa
Priority 2Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $53.6m (+39.9% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $76.4m (+29.9%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- United States 15%, Argentina 9%, China 9%
Why: About +40% in 2024, with the most diversified origins in this set (top three about 33%).
Watch: Mid-sized market (about USD 54 million).
Official requirements: Plant import permit from NPPOZA (valid one year); Plant Improvement Act for varieties and propagating material. South Africa seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; permit and Act verified.
- 7.
Saudi Arabia
Priority 3Evidence confidence: Medium- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $39.3m (+21.3% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $60.3m (-40.9%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- India 17%, United States 14%, China 10%
Why: Vegetable-seed imports rose about 21% in 2024 while total HS 1209 imports fell about 41%. Reading HS 1209 alone would point the wrong way.
Watch: New varieties go through ministry-supervised trials before registration and sale.
Official requirements: MEWA import licence (Hassad and Naama), clearance permit per consignment, trial-then-register for new varieties. Saudi Arabia seed compliance guide
2024 data; MEWA service pages verified; the cause of the HS 1209 fall is not established.
- 8.
Egypt
Priority 3Evidence confidence: Medium- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $47.7m (+3.9% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $120.9m (-2.3%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- Thailand 20%, India 13%, United States 11%
Why: Stable market (about USD 48 million of vegetable seed); vegetables are under 40% of Egypt's HS 1209 imports.
Watch: Seed registration and certification obligations were not reviewed here.
Official requirements: CAPQ import requirements by origin and plant under Decree 562/2019. Egypt seed compliance guide
2024 data; quarantine rules verified, seed registration not reviewed.
- 9.
Kenya
Priority 3Evidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $20.6m (+39.2% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $23.7m (+37.0%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- South Africa 21%, Chile 13%, United States 12%
Why: About +39% in 2024 from a small base (about USD 21 million).
Watch: Smaller absolute market; the top three origins supply about 46%.
Official requirements: KEPHIS implements both the Plant Protection Act and the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act. Kenya seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; KEPHIS mandate verified.
- 10.
Spain
ContextEvidence confidence: High- HS 1209 91 imports 2024
- $373.3m (+8.4% vs 2023)
- All HS 1209 imports 2024
- $444.2m (+3.1%)
- Top origins (share of HS 1209 91)
- Netherlands 55%, France 23%, Israel 3%
Why: Large market (about USD 373 million), but the Netherlands and France supply about 79%. A mature, concentrated intra-EU supply pattern.
Watch: Limited room for new origins without EU-listed varieties.
Official requirements: MAPA under EU plant-health and vegetable-seed marketing rules. Spain seed compliance guide
2024 reported data; EU and national authorities verified.
Largest vegetable-seed importers, 2024
The Netherlands, France and Italy are large importers and exporters at the same time. Seed moves through them for breeding, processing and re-export, so imports there do not equal planting demand.
| Country | HS 1209 91 (veg) | Change | All HS 1209 | Veg share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $591.1m | +16.4% | $887.9m | 67% |
| Mexico | $478.2m | -0.6% | $586.5m | 82% |
| United States | $421.3m | +5.1% | $641.6m | 66% |
| Spain | $373.3m | +8.4% | $444.2m | 84% |
| Italy | $301.5m | +16.1% | $445.3m | 68% |
| France | $280.3m | +17.7% | $542.2m | 52% |
| China | $245.2m | -7.5% | $458.3m | 54% |
| Canada | $203.5m | +9.7% | $308.0m | 66% |
| Japan | $149.8m | +1.1% | $208.6m | 72% |
| India | $130.0m | -0.9% | $169.0m | 77% |
| Morocco | $129.9m | +28.1% | $147.1m | 88% |
| Germany | $123.7m | +8.1% | $491.5m | 25% |
| Brazil | $121.1m | +44.5% | $138.7m | 87% |
| Türkiye | $110.9m | -2.6% | $179.8m | 62% |
| Poland | $76.3m | +20.2% | $175.0m | 44% |
Largest vegetable-seed exporters, 2024 (supply competition)
| Country | HS 1209 91 (veg) | Change | All HS 1209 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $2,377.2m | +7.3% | $2,702.9m |
| France | $627.1m | +6.7% | $849.4m |
| United States | $609.2m | +20.1% | $1,068.3m |
| Chile | $195.8m | +6.8% | $213.0m |
| China | $167.6m | +30.8% | $191.9m |
| Italy | $166.9m | +7.4% | $408.4m |
| Israel | $156.7m | +4.9% | $180.0m |
| India | $122.2m | +20.9% | $150.6m |
| Thailand | $116.3m | +7.5% | $137.4m |
| Spain | $109.9m | +11.6% | $148.5m |
Buyer segments and the trade code that fits them
| Buyer segment | Typical product | Trade code | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse and protected-cultivation vegetable growers | Hybrid vegetable seed for tomato, pepper, cucumber and similar crops | HS 1209 91 | Vegetable seed categoriesGreenhouse RFQ |
| Open-field vegetable and export producers | Vegetable seed lots specified by cultivar, count or kg, and lot evidence | HS 1209 91 | Vegetable seed procurementVegetable seed RFQ checklist |
| Seed distributors and importers | Bulk lots of varieties already registered in the destination | HS 1209 91 / 1209 99 | Seed lot RFQ buyer guideSeed RFQ specification |
| Forage, pasture and turf programmes | Lucerne, clover, fescue, rye grass and other forage seed | HS 1209 21–29 | Global seed sourcing |
| Field-crop seed programmes | Maize, wheat, soybean and groundnut seed, classified outside HS 1209 | 1005 10, 1001 11/91, 1201 10, 1202 30 | Cereal seed marketsOilseed seed markets |
Method and limitations
- Annual HS data from the UN Comtrade public API, partner = World, flows M (imports) and X (exports), 2023 and 2024, retrieved 2026-10-23. Origin shares use each importer's partner breakdown for 2024.
- 146 countries had reported 2024 imports versus 167 for 2023, so global totals are not compared. Countries missing from the tables may simply not have reported 2024 yet.
- Values are in current US dollars, so changes include price and exchange-rate effects as well as volume.
- Partner countries are the origins reported by the importer. They can be where seed was produced or multiplied, not where the breeder is based.
- No unit values or prices are shown. Seed mixes differ too much between countries for a USD-per-kg figure to be a price.
Definitions
- HS 1209
- Harmonized System heading for seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing (all subheadings below).
- HS 1209 91
- Vegetable seeds of a kind used for sowing; the best customs proxy for vegetable-seed demand.
- CIF / FOB
- Imports are usually valued CIF (cost, insurance and freight to the border); exports FOB (free on board at origin).
- Reporter / partner
- The reporter is the country that filed the statistics; the partner is the trading country it recorded.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate issued by the exporting country's plant-protection organisation, under IPPC standards, stating the consignment meets the importer's plant-health requirements.
- Variety registration
- Listing of a variety on a national catalogue or register; many countries only allow registered varieties to be sold.
Questions buyers ask
What is the HS code for seeds for sowing?
Heading 1209 covers seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing. Vegetable seed is subheading 1209 91. Sowing seed of maize, wheat, soybean, groundnut and seed potatoes is classified elsewhere (1005 10, 1001 11/91, 1201 10, 1202 30, 0701 10).
Is HS 1209 the same as vegetable seed?
No. HS 1209 also includes sugar beet, forage, flower and other seed. In the 2024 data, vegetable seed was 25% of Germany's HS 1209 imports and 88% of Morocco's, so use HS 1209 91 for vegetable-seed demand.
Do these figures show the size of a seed market?
No. They are customs values for cross-border trade, reported by each country. They exclude domestic production and say nothing about certified-seed volumes, varieties or current prices.
Do you need a phytosanitary certificate to import seeds?
Commonly yes, but it depends on the destination, crop and origin. Each country guide links to the official authority that sets the requirement; confirm it for every shipment.
Why do some importers list Peru, Guatemala or Kenya as seed origins?
Partner countries in import data are the origins reported by the importer. They can be where the seed was produced or multiplied, which is not necessarily the breeder's home country.
Sources
- UN Comtrade Database (UN Statistics Division) — Annual HS data, reporter = each country, partner = World and by partner.
- UN Comtrade API documentation — Public preview endpoint used for the 2023 and 2024 queries.
- UN Comtrade HS classification reference (HS 1209 subheadings) — Official subheading texts quoted in the definitions.
- IPPC — national plant protection organisation contacts — Official contact point for countries without a reviewed guide.
Next steps
- Seed import requirements by country — official authorities and documents
- Seed price calculator — historical customs unit values, not supplier prices
- Start a seed sourcing request — commercial projects from USD 250,000; a sourcing specialist reviews each request before supplier outreach