HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 0303.11 – Fish; frozen, Pacific salmon, sockeye salmon (red salmon) (Oncorhynchus nerka), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99
HS code 0303.11 is the 6-digit subheading for fish, frozen, Pacific salmon, sockeye salmon (red salmon) (Oncorhynchus nerka), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. It is used for whole frozen sockeye salmon, head-on gutted frozen sockeye, frozen sockeye salmon portions (not fillets), frozen sockeye salmon steaks (not fillets) and frozen sockeye salmon carcasses.
What HS 0303.11 covers
This HS code specifically covers whole, frozen sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also known as red salmon, excluding any filleted forms, fish meat, or edible offal. Sockeye salmon is highly prized for its rich flavor, firm texture, and vibrant red-orange flesh, making it a premium product in the global seafood market. It is primarily wild-caught in the Pacific Ocean. Importers are typically seafood wholesalers, distributors, and processors in countries with high demand for quality salmon, such as Japan, the EU, and the USA. Exporters are major fishing nations like Canada, Russia, and the United States, particularly Alaska. Key aspects of this trade include strict catch quotas, sustainability certifications, and the importance of rapid freezing techniques to preserve quality. The seasonal nature of the sockeye run significantly impacts supply and pricing, making market timing crucial.
- Covers
- Whole frozen sockeye salmon
- Head-on gutted frozen sockeye
- Frozen sockeye salmon portions (not fillets)
- Frozen sockeye salmon steaks (not fillets)
- Frozen sockeye salmon carcasses
- Examples
- Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon
- Bristol Bay Sockeye
- Copper River Sockeye (frozen)
- "Frozen Whole Sockeye Salmon."
Codes often confused with 0303.11
Common mistake. This code is distinct from 030312 (other frozen Pacific salmon) and 030313 (frozen Atlantic salmon), as it specifies sockeye, and from 0304 (fish fillets and other fish meat) if the salmon is processed into fillets.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 030311, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030311 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 29% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $266M 54% of world exports
- 2 Russia* ~$166M 34% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Canada $17M 3.4% of world exports
World total: $490M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $142M 29% of world imports
- 2 Canada $90M 19% of world imports
- 3 Poland $60M 12% of world imports
World total: $485M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for 0303.11
Brazil does not split HS 0303.11: its NCM code is 0303.11.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 03.03 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 0303.11
What is HS code 030311?
HS code 030311 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish; frozen, Pacific salmon, sockeye salmon (red salmon) (Oncorhynchus nerka), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. This HS code specifically covers whole, frozen sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also known as red salmon, excluding any filleted forms, fish meat, or edible offal. Sockeye salmon is highly prized for its rich flavor, firm texture, and vibrant red-orange flesh, making it a premium product in the global seafood market. It is primarily wild-caught in the Pacific Ocean. Importers are typically seafood wholesalers, distributors, and processors in countries with high demand for quality salmon, such as Japan, the EU, and the USA. Exporters are major fishing nations like Canada, Russia, and the United States, particularly Alaska. Key aspects of this trade include strict catch quotas, sustainability certifications, and the importance of rapid freezing techniques to preserve quality. The seasonal nature of the sockeye run significantly impacts supply and pricing, making market timing crucial.
What products fall under HS code 030311?
Whole frozen sockeye salmon, head-on gutted frozen sockeye, frozen sockeye salmon portions (not fillets), frozen sockeye salmon steaks (not fillets), frozen sockeye salmon carcasses
What are common misclassifications for HS code 030311?
This code is distinct from 030312 (other frozen Pacific salmon) and 030313 (frozen Atlantic salmon), as it specifies sockeye, and from 0304 (fish fillets and other fish meat) if the salmon is processed into fillets.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030311?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030311 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($266M, 54% of world exports), Russia (about $166M) and Canada ($17M). World exports came to about $490M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 030311?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030311 in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($142M, 29% of world imports), Canada ($90M) and Poland ($60M). World imports came to about $485M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 030311 structured?
HS code 030311 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (03) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (03) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (11) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030311?
In Brazil, HS code 030311 is NCM 0303.11.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.