High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS-42 & HFCS-55)

HFCS-42 and HFCS-55, labelled in the EU as glucose-fructose and fructose-glucose syrup

High fructose corn syrup is glucose syrup in which part of the glucose has been converted to fructose. Under 21 CFR 184.1866 it is prepared from high-DE corn starch hydrolysate by partial enzymatic conversion of glucose to fructose using an insoluble glucose isomerase, contains approximately 42 or 55% fructose, and must meet the Food Chemicals Codex monograph. The two grades read differently on a specification sheet. HFCS-42 is the direct output of isomerisation: Ingredion's INVERTOSE specification runs 70.5-71.5% dry substance, at least 42.0% fructose and at least 94.0% fructose plus dextrose, pH 3.3-4.5. HFCS-55 is enriched to more fructose and is the grade carbonated drinks use: the L&S Sweeteners specification runs 76.5-77.5% dry substance, more than 55% fructose, more than 95% fructose plus dextrose and under 5% higher saccharides, with a sweetness rating of 99 against sugar at 100. Both are stored at about 32-38°C to prevent dextrose crystallisation and limit colour; that specification gives six months' shelf life in bulk tanks.

The label name and the tariff line both follow the fructose content. In the EU the labelling names are glucose-fructose syrup, for a glucose syrup with 5-50% fructose on a dry basis, and fructose-glucose syrup above 50%; isoglucose is the agricultural policy term. In the Harmonized System, HFCS-42 falls in 1702.40 (glucose and glucose syrup with at least 20% but less than 50% fructose in the dry state, excluding invert sugar) and HFCS-55 in 1702.60 (other fructose and fructose syrup, over 50%), as in US CBP ruling NY N309777 (11 March 2020), which classified a 55-58% fructose syrup shipped in flexitanks of about 20 MT per container. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations for 1702.60 total USD 1.28 billion, with the USA at 1.44 million MT and half the value, China at 343,000 MT, then Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Canada, Korea and Argentina; 1702.40 is a smaller USD 206 million trade led by Hungary, China, the USA, Canada, Slovakia and Poland. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers HFCS against a certificate of analysis for fructose, fructose plus dextrose, dry substance, colour, pH and microbiology, with halal and kosher certificates where required, on FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP terms. Send the grade, packing, monthly volume and discharge port, and confirm how your market labels it.

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Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.