HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0303.89 – Fish; frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99

HS code 0303.89 is the 6-digit subheading for fish, frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. It is used for frozen whole mackerel, frozen gutted herring, frozen headless cod, frozen whole sardines and frozen hake portions (bone-in).

What HS 0303.89 covers

This "not elsewhere specified" (n.e.c.) code acts as a catch-all for all other frozen fish, whole or in pieces (excluding fillets and offal), that aren't specifically categorized under other 0303 subheadings. This makes it a highly diverse and frequently used code in international trade, covering a vast array of species from various oceans and aquaculture operations. Importers and exporters span the globe, ranging from large seafood conglomerates to smaller specialized distributors, catering to diverse culinary traditions and market demands. Key players include countries with extensive fishing fleets or significant aquaculture industries, such as China, Norway, Russia, and Vietnam. The trade involves a wide range of species, from common table fish to exotic varieties. Critical aspects include accurate species identification, compliance with regional fishing quotas and import regulations, and maintaining robust cold chain logistics to ensure product integrity across long supply routes.

Covers
  • Frozen whole mackerel
  • Frozen gutted herring
  • Frozen headless cod
  • Frozen whole sardines
  • Frozen hake portions (bone-in)
  • Frozen whole pompano
  • Frozen red snapper
  • Frozen yellowfin tuna (whole)
Examples
  • Frozen Whole Atlantic Mackerel
  • Frozen Gutted Pacific Herring
  • Frozen Headless Hake
  • Frozen Whole Sardinella
  • Frozen Red Snapper (whole)

Codes often confused with 0303.89

Common mistake. This code is often a default for frozen fish that don't fit specific categories, but care must be taken to ensure the fish isn't actually a specific species covered by codes like 030382 (rays/skates), 030383 (toothfish), or 030384 (seabass), or if it's filleted (0304).

0303.82Fish; frozen, rays and skates (Rajidae), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.990303.83Fish; frozen, toothfish (Dissostichus spp.), excluding fillets, livers, roes, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.990303.84Fish; frozen, seabass (Dicentrarchus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.9903.04Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced); fresh, chilled or frozen

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030389, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030389 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 25% 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 China $786M
  2. 2 United States $409M
  3. 3 India $328M

World total: $4.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $1.1B
  2. 2 South Korea $379M
  3. 3 United States $337M

World total: $4.4B 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 that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. 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 0303.89 22

Brazil splits HS 0303.89 into 22 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 0303.89.10 Frozen whitemouth croakerCorvina (Micropogonias furnieri)
  2. 0303.89.20 Frozen weakfishPescadas (Cynoscion spp.)
  3. 0303.89.3 Southern red snapper (Lutjanus purpureus) and monkfish (Lophius gastrophysus)Pargo (Lutjanus purpureus) e peixe-sapo (Lophius gastrophysus) Group
  4. 0303.89.32 Frozen southern red snapperPargo (Lutjanus purpureus)
  5. 0303.89.33 Frozen monkfish (anglerfish)Peixe-sapo (Lophius gastrophysus)
  6. 0303.89.4 Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus), groupers (Acanthistius spp.), mullets (Mugil spp.), sturgeons (Acipenser baerii, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus), sand smelts (Atherina spp.) and notothens (Patagonotothen spp.)Cherne-poveiro (Polyprion americanus), garoupas (Acanthistius spp.), tainhas (Mugil spp.), esturjões (Acipenser baerii, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus), peixes-rei (Atherina spp.) e nototenias (Patagonotothen spp.) Group
  7. 0303.89.41 Frozen wreckfishCherne-poveiro (Polyprion americanus)
  8. 0303.89.42 Frozen groupers (Acanthistius)Garoupas (Acanthistius spp.)
  9. 0303.89.43 Frozen mulletsTainhas (Mugil spp.)
  10. 0303.89.44 Frozen sturgeon (4 Acipenser spp.)Esturjões (Acipenser baerii, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus)
  11. 0303.89.45 Frozen sand smeltsPeixes-rei (Atherina spp.)
  12. 0303.89.46 Frozen Patagonian rockcod (notothens)Nototenias (Patagonotothen spp.)
  13. 0303.89.5 Prochilods (Prochilodus spp.), tilapias (Tilapia spp., Sarotherodon spp., Danakilia spp.; their hybrids), shovelnose catfish (Pseudoplatystoma spp.), trahira (Hoplias malabaricus & H. cf. lacerdae), headstanders (Leporinus spp.) and arapaima (Arapaima gigas)Curimatãs (Prochilodus spp.), tilápias (Tilapia spp., Sarotherodon spp., Danakilia spp.; seus híbridos), surubins (Pseudoplatystoma spp.), traíra (Hoplias malabaricus & H. cf. lacerdae), piaus (Leporinus spp.) e pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) Group
  14. 0303.89.51 Frozen prochilodsCurimatãs (Prochilodus spp.)
  15. 0303.89.52 Frozen tilapia (not Oreochromis)Tilápias (Tilapia spp., Sarotherodon spp., Danakilia spp.; seus híbridos)
  16. 0303.89.53 Frozen shovelnose catfishSurubins (Pseudoplatystoma spp.)
  17. 0303.89.54 Frozen trahiraTraíra (Hoplias malabaricus & H. cf. lacerdae)
  18. 0303.89.55 Frozen headstanders (Leporinus)Piaus (Leporinus spp.)
  19. 0303.89.56 Frozen arapaimaPirarucu (Arapaima gigas)
  20. 0303.89.6 Laulao catfish (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), gilded catfish (Brachyplatystoma flavicans), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and tambacu (hybrid of tambaqui and pacu)Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), dourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) e tambacu (híbrido de tambaqui e pacu) Group
  21. 0303.89.61 Frozen laulao catfish (piramutaba)Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii)
  22. 0303.89.62 Frozen gilded catfishDourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans)
  23. 0303.89.63 Frozen pacuPacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)
  24. 0303.89.64 Frozen tambaquiTambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)
  25. 0303.89.65 Frozen tambacu (tambaqui-pacu hybrid)Tambacu (híbrido de tambaqui e pacu)
  26. 0303.89.90 Other frozen fishOutros

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 0303.89

What is HS code 030389?

HS code 030389 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish; frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99. This "not elsewhere specified" (n.e.c.) code acts as a catch-all for all other frozen fish, whole or in pieces (excluding fillets and offal), that aren't specifically categorized under other 0303 subheadings. This makes it a highly diverse and frequently used code in international trade, covering a vast array of species from various oceans and aquaculture operations. Importers and exporters span the globe, ranging from large seafood conglomerates to smaller specialized distributors, catering to diverse culinary traditions and market demands. Key players include countries with extensive fishing fleets or significant aquaculture industries, such as China, Norway, Russia, and Vietnam. The trade involves a wide range of species, from common table fish to exotic varieties. Critical aspects include accurate species identification, compliance with regional fishing quotas and import regulations, and maintaining robust cold chain logistics to ensure product integrity across long supply routes.

What products fall under HS code 030389?

Frozen whole mackerel, frozen gutted herring, frozen headless cod, frozen whole sardines, frozen hake portions (bone-in), frozen whole pompano, frozen red snapper, frozen yellowfin tuna (whole)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030389?

This code is often a default for frozen fish that don't fit specific categories, but care must be taken to ensure the fish isn't actually a specific species covered by codes like 030382 (rays/skates), 030383 (toothfish), or 030384 (seabass), or if it's filleted (0304).

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030389?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030389 in UN Comtrade data were China ($786M, 17% of world exports), the United States ($409M) and India ($328M). World exports came to about $4.6B, 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 030389?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030389 in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.1B, 25% of world imports), South Korea ($379M) and the United States ($337M). World imports came to about $4.4B, 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 030389 structured?

HS code 030389 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 (89) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030389?

Brazil splits HS code 030389 into 22 NCM codes: 0303.89.10 (Frozen whitemouth croaker), 0303.89.20 (Frozen weakfish), 0303.89.32 (Frozen southern red snapper), 0303.89.33 (Frozen monkfish (anglerfish)), 0303.89.41 (Frozen wreckfish), 0303.89.42 (Frozen groupers (Acanthistius)), 0303.89.43 (Frozen mullets), 0303.89.44 (Frozen sturgeon (4 Acipenser spp.)), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.