Whole Flaxseed: export from Canada to Southeast Asia
Canada is a major flaxseed origin and the crop splits into two commercial products that look similar and sell differently. Brown flax is the volume trade, going to oil extraction, feed and industrial use. Golden flax carries a premium into food and retail applications where appearance matters.
The specification points are oil content, moisture, foreign material and, for food applications, the microbiological profile: flaxseed is often consumed without a kill step, so buyers supplying ready-to-eat manufacturers should ask about it specifically and not assume it.
The attribute most relevant to a food buyer is stability. Flax is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is the health claim it is bought for and also the reason it goes rancid faster than most seeds. Whole seed is far more stable than milled; if you are buying milled you are buying a shorter clock and should be planning the cold chain and turnover accordingly.
Specify brown or golden, the end application, and whether you need a validated microbiological reduction: those three answers change the quote.
Canadian export requirements
- HS classification
- 1204.00: Linseed, whether or not broken
- CFIA certificates
- Available on request: send your specification and destination and we'll confirm within five working days.
Six-market position
| Market | MFN duty | Preferential | Registration category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 10% | Free (CPTPP) | On request |
| Thailand | 20% | None: no agreement in force | On request |
| Philippines | 3% | None: no agreement in force | On request |
| Indonesia | 5% | None: CEPA signed, not in force | On request |
| Malaysia | Free | Free (CPTPP) | On request |
| Singapore | Free | Free (CPTPP) | On request |
MFN duty is the destination's applied general rate for this tariff line. Preferential is the rate under an agreement in force between Canada and that market.
Both are customs duty only: destination excise, value-added tax and local levies are additional and are not shown here.
Available on request: send your specification and destination and we'll confirm within five working days.
Commercial terms
- Producing provinces
- Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba
- Seasonality
- Single annual harvest, typically August to September
- Pack formats
- 25 kg bags, 50 kg bags, 1 MT totes, Bulk in container
- Container configuration
- On request
- Indicative MOQ
- On request
Common questions
- What is the HS code for whole flaxseed?
- 1204.00: Linseed, whether or not broken. This was read from Canada Border Services Agency on 2026-09-01. The first six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonised System; digits beyond that are set by the destination.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in Vietnam?
- The most-favoured-nation rate Vietnam applies is 10%. Preferential treatment: Free (CPTPP). This was read from Government of Canada, BDC and EDC on 2026-09-01. Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in Thailand?
- The most-favoured-nation rate Thailand applies is 20%. Preferential treatment: None: no agreement in force. Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in the Philippines?
- The most-favoured-nation rate the Philippines applies is 3%. Preferential treatment: None: no agreement in force. Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in Indonesia?
- The most-favoured-nation rate Indonesia applies is 5%. Preferential treatment: None: CEPA signed, not in force. Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in Malaysia?
- The most-favoured-nation rate Malaysia applies is Free. Preferential treatment: Free (CPTPP). Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
- What is the import duty on Canadian whole flaxseed in Singapore?
- The most-favoured-nation rate Singapore applies is Free. Preferential treatment: Free (CPTPP). Duty is one line of a landed cost, and registration and certification usually cost more than it does.
Sources
- Customs Tariff (T2026), Chapter 12 · Canada Border Services Agency, retrieved September 1, 2026
- Canada Tariff Finder: destination duties for 1204.00 · Government of Canada, BDC and EDC, retrieved September 1, 2026
- Duties and Dutiable Goods Overview · Singapore Customs, retrieved September 1, 2026
Last reviewed: September 1, 2026