HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0303.24 – Fish; frozen, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99

HS code 0303.24 is the 6-digit subheading for fish, frozen, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. It is used for whole frozen Pangasius, gutted frozen Ictalurus catfish, whole frozen Clarias catfish, frozen Silurus catfish (gutted) and frozen channel catfish (whole).

What HS 0303.24 covers

This HS code covers frozen whole or gutted catfish from various genera (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), specifically excluding fillets, fish meat, and offal. Catfish, particularly Pangasius (Basa/Swai), is a highly traded aquaculture product known for its mild flavor and versatility, making it a popular choice globally. The global trade in frozen whole catfish is substantial, catering to markets that prefer to process the fish themselves or have culinary traditions centered around whole fish. Major exporters are countries with extensive catfish farming, primarily in Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam for Pangasius) and North America (e.g., USA for Ictalurus). Importers include countries with high seafood consumption, particularly those with large Asian or African diaspora populations, such as the USA, Mexico, and various European nations. Key trade considerations involve maintaining the cold chain, ensuring sustainable farming practices, and adhering to strict import regulations regarding food safety and species identification.

Covers
  • Whole frozen Pangasius
  • Gutted frozen Ictalurus catfish
  • Whole frozen Clarias catfish
  • Frozen Silurus catfish (gutted)
  • Frozen channel catfish (whole)
  • Frozen Basa fish (whole)
  • Frozen Swai fish (gutted)
  • Frozen walking catfish (whole)
Examples
  • Vinh Hoan Frozen Pangasius
  • John T. Handy Frozen Catfish
  • Delta Pride Frozen Catfish
  • Anova Seafood Frozen Pangasius
  • Seafresh Frozen Catfish

Codes often confused with 0303.24

Common mistake. This code is often confused with 0304 (catfish fillets) if the fish has been processed into fillets, or with other frozen whole fish if the specific catfish genus is not correctly identified.

03.04Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced); fresh, chilled or frozen

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030324, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030324 in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 67% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 41% 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. 1 Vietnam* ~$176M
  2. 2 China $38M
  3. 3 Thailand $11M

World total: $262M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $107M
  2. 2 Colombia $31M
  3. 3 DR Congo* ~$12M

World total: $259M 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 codes for 0303.24 2

Brazil splits HS 0303.24 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 0303.24.10 Frozen channel catfishBagre americano (Ictalurus punctatus)
  2. 0303.24.90 Other frozen catfishOutros

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 0303.24

What is HS code 030324?

HS code 030324 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish; frozen, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. This HS code covers frozen whole or gutted catfish from various genera (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), specifically excluding fillets, fish meat, and offal. Catfish, particularly Pangasius (Basa/Swai), is a highly traded aquaculture product known for its mild flavor and versatility, making it a popular choice globally. The global trade in frozen whole catfish is substantial, catering to markets that prefer to process the fish themselves or have culinary traditions centered around whole fish. Major exporters are countries with extensive catfish farming, primarily in Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam for Pangasius) and North America (e.g., USA for Ictalurus). Importers include countries with high seafood consumption, particularly those with large Asian or African diaspora populations, such as the USA, Mexico, and various European nations. Key trade considerations involve maintaining the cold chain, ensuring sustainable farming practices, and adhering to strict import regulations regarding food safety and species identification.

What products fall under HS code 030324?

Whole frozen Pangasius, Gutted frozen Ictalurus catfish, Whole frozen Clarias catfish, Frozen Silurus catfish (gutted), Frozen channel catfish (whole), Frozen Basa fish (whole), Frozen Swai fish (gutted), Frozen walking catfish (whole)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030324?

This code is often confused with 0304 (catfish fillets) if the fish has been processed into fillets, or with other frozen whole fish if the specific catfish genus is not correctly identified.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030324?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030324 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $176M, 67% of world exports), China ($38M) and Thailand ($11M). World exports came to about $262M, 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 030324?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030324 in UN Comtrade data were China ($107M, 41% of world imports), Colombia ($31M) and the DR Congo (about $12M). World imports came to about $259M, 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 030324 structured?

HS code 030324 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 (24) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030324?

Brazil splits HS code 030324 into 2 NCM codes: 0303.24.10 (Frozen channel catfish), 0303.24.90 (Other frozen catfish). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.