HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0303.63 – Fish; frozen, cod (Gadus morhua, Gadus ogac, Gadus macrocephalus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99

HS code 0303.63 is the 6-digit subheading for fish, frozen, cod (Gadus morhua, Gadus ogac, Gadus macrocephalus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. It is used for whole frozen Atlantic cod, frozen cod steaks (bone-in), frozen cod loins (skin-on, bone-out, non-fillet), frozen cod portions (non-fillet) and frozen cod heads.

What HS 0303.63 covers

This code covers frozen whole or cut (but not filleted) cod, specifically Atlantic, Greenland, and Pacific species. Cod is a cornerstone of the global whitefish trade, highly valued for its mild flavor and flaky texture. It's a staple in many cuisines, particularly in Europe and North America. Importers include major seafood processors who will fillet and portion the fish, as well as distributors supplying restaurants and retail. Exporters are primarily countries with significant cod fisheries, such as Norway, Iceland, Russia, and Canada. Key aspects of this trade involve managing quotas to ensure sustainability, cold chain logistics for large volumes, and quality control to prevent freezer burn. The demand for cod remains consistently high, driving substantial international trade in various forms, including these non-filleted frozen forms.

Covers
  • Whole frozen Atlantic cod
  • Frozen cod steaks (bone-in)
  • Frozen cod loins (skin-on, bone-out, non-fillet)
  • Frozen cod portions (non-fillet)
  • Frozen cod heads
  • Frozen cod frames
Examples
  • Norwegian Seafood Council Cod
  • Icelandic Seafish Frozen Cod
  • Faroese Frozen Cod
  • Russian Fishery Company Cod

Codes often confused with 0303.63

Common mistake. This code is frequently confused with 0304.81 (frozen cod fillets) because cod is so often traded as fillets; the key distinction is the "excluding fillets" clause. It can also be mistaken for other frozen whitefish like haddock (030364).

0304.81Fish fillets; frozen, salmon, Pacific (Oncorhynchus nerka, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Oncorhynchus keta, Oncorhynchus tschawytscha, Oncorhynchus kisutch, Oncorhynchus masou, Oncorhynchus rhodurus), Atlantic (Salmo salar), and Danube (Hucho hucho)0303.64Fish; frozen, haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030363, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030363 in UN Comtrade data was Russia, with about 41% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 40% 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 Russia* ~$809M
  2. 2 Norway $254M
  3. 3 Greenland* ~$245M

World total: $2.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $774M
  2. 2 Denmark $168M
  3. 3 Portugal $165M

World total: $1.9B 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 0303.63

Brazil does not split HS 0303.63: its NCM code is 0303.63.00.

  1. 0303.63.00 Frozen codBacalhau-do-atlântico (Gadus morhua), bacalhau-da-groelândia (Gadus ogac) e bacalhau-do-pacífico (Gadus macrocephalus)

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 0303.63

What is HS code 030363?

HS code 030363 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish; frozen, cod (Gadus morhua, Gadus ogac, Gadus macrocephalus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. This code covers frozen whole or cut (but not filleted) cod, specifically Atlantic, Greenland, and Pacific species. Cod is a cornerstone of the global whitefish trade, highly valued for its mild flavor and flaky texture. It's a staple in many cuisines, particularly in Europe and North America. Importers include major seafood processors who will fillet and portion the fish, as well as distributors supplying restaurants and retail. Exporters are primarily countries with significant cod fisheries, such as Norway, Iceland, Russia, and Canada. Key aspects of this trade involve managing quotas to ensure sustainability, cold chain logistics for large volumes, and quality control to prevent freezer burn. The demand for cod remains consistently high, driving substantial international trade in various forms, including these non-filleted frozen forms.

What products fall under HS code 030363?

Whole frozen Atlantic cod, frozen cod steaks (bone-in), frozen cod loins (skin-on, bone-out, non-fillet), frozen cod portions (non-fillet), frozen cod heads, frozen cod frames

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030363?

This code is frequently confused with 0304.81 (frozen cod fillets) because cod is so often traded as fillets; the key distinction is the "excluding fillets" clause. It can also be mistaken for other frozen whitefish like haddock (030364).

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030363?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030363 in UN Comtrade data were Russia (about $809M, 41% of world exports), Norway ($254M) and Greenland (about $245M). World exports came to about $2.0B, 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 030363?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030363 in UN Comtrade data were China ($774M, 40% of world imports), Denmark ($168M) and Portugal ($165M). World imports came to about $1.9B, 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 030363 structured?

HS code 030363 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 (63) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030363?

In Brazil, HS code 030363 is NCM 0303.63.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.