HS code 0703.20 covers Garlic (fresh or chilled) — for example fresh garlic bulbs, chilled garlic. South Africa applies an indicative general customs duty of 325c/kg with a maximum of 37%, on top of which 15% import VAT is charged.
Chinese-origin garlic has carried a long-standing anti-dumping duty — verify the current SARS Schedule 2 and your true country of origin before ordering.
Worked example: landed cost on R100,000 of goods
This line is charged by quantity (325c/kg with a maximum of 37%). The specific-duty leg needs the consignment’s quantity in kg, so a R100,000-only example would understate the duty whenever that leg applies. Use the Duty & VAT Calculator with quantity for a full figure.
| Customs value (CIF) | R100,000 |
| Ad-valorem leg only (0%) | R0 |
| Import VAT (15% on ATV, ad-valorem duty only) | R16,500 |
| Floor (quantity unknown) | R116,500 |
VAT is charged on the Added Tax Value (customs value + 10% upliftment for non-SACU imports + duties). Figures exclude clearing, freight and any anti-dumping/safeguard duty. For an exact, all-in figure use the Duty & VAT Calculator.
Where HS 0703.20 sits in the tariff
Classification is decided at heading level first. Heading 0703 is “Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables; fresh or chilled”. If your product is closer to one of the neighbouring subheadings below, that line — and its duty rate — is the one that applies.
- 0703.10 Vegetables, alliaceous; onions and shallots, fresh or chilled
- 0703.20 Vegetables, alliaceous; garlic, fresh or chilled — this page
- 0703.90 Vegetables, alliaceous; leeks and other kinds n.e.c. in heading no. 0703, fresh or chilled
Harmonised System HS 2022 nomenclature. See the whole of Chapter 07 →
Watch HS 0703.20 for changes
Duty rates, anti-dumping measures and permit rules change by Government Gazette. We’ll email you if this code’s status shifts.
Data current as of 2026-08-06. Indicative general (MFN) rate — real duty can differ at 8-digit level, under trade agreements (SADC, EU-EPA) and by Government Gazette. This is guidance, not a tariff determination under s47(9) of the Customs & Excise Act, 1964. Verify against the current SARS Tariff Book.
More codes in Chapter 07 — Edible vegetables, roots & tubers
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on garlic (fresh or chilled) in South Africa?
HS code 0703.20 (Garlic (fresh or chilled)) attracts an indicative general customs duty of 325c/kg with a maximum of 37% in South Africa, plus 15% import VAT charged on the Added Tax Value. Verify the exact rate in the current SARS Tariff Book.
What is the HS code for fresh garlic bulbs?
The Harmonised System heading for garlic (fresh or chilled) is 0703.20. South Africa uses an 8-digit tariff line based on this heading — confirm the precise 8-digit code in the SARS Tariff Book before importing.