HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0304.53 – Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae, and Muraenolepididae

HS code 0304.53 is the 6-digit subheading for fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced, fresh or chilled, of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae, and Muraenolepididae. It is used for fresh cod portions (bone-in), chilled haddock meat, fresh hake steaks, minced pollock meat and fresh ling meat.

What HS 0304.53 covers

This broad HS code covers fresh or chilled fish meat, excluding fillets, from several important deep-sea and demersal fish families, including Gadidae (cod, haddock, pollock) and Merlucciidae (hake). These species are staples in many global cuisines, particularly in Europe and North America, prized for their mild flavor and flaky white flesh. Trade involves significant volumes of wild-caught fish, often shipped as whole fish or large cuts for further processing into consumer-ready products or for the food service industry. Major fishing nations in the North Atlantic and Pacific are key exporters, supplying large consumer markets. Maintaining the cold chain is paramount to ensure product quality and safety during international transit.

Covers
  • Fresh cod portions (bone-in)
  • Chilled haddock meat
  • Fresh hake steaks
  • Minced pollock meat
  • Fresh ling meat
  • Chilled whiting meat
  • Fresh saithe chunks
Examples
  • Atlantic Cod (meat)
  • Pacific Hake (meat)
  • Alaskan Pollock (meat)
  • North Sea Haddock (meat)
  • Patagonian Hake (meat)

Codes often confused with 0304.53

Common mistake. This code can be confused with 030482 (frozen fillets of cod, haddock, etc.) or 030493 (other frozen meat of these families), as the distinction lies in the preservation method and whether it's a fillet.

0304.82Fish fillets; frozen, trout (Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Oncorhynchus clarki, Oncorhynchus aguabonita, Oncorhynchus gilae, Oncorhynchus apache and Oncorhynchus chrysogaster)0304.93Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; frozen, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030453, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030453 in UN Comtrade data was Iceland, with 55% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 59% 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 Iceland $12M
  2. 2 Denmark $2.3M
  3. 3 Poland $2.2M

World total: $21M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $72M
  2. 2 France $35M
  3. 3 Canada $4.0M

World total: $123M 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 code for 0304.53

Brazil does not split HS 0304.53: its NCM code is 0304.53.00.

  1. 0304.53.00 Fresh or chilled cod-like (gadiform) fish meatPeixes das famílias Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae e Muraenolepididae

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 03.04 →

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.

Questions about HS 0304.53

What is HS code 030453?

HS code 030453 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae, and Muraenolepididae. This broad HS code covers fresh or chilled fish meat, excluding fillets, from several important deep-sea and demersal fish families, including Gadidae (cod, haddock, pollock) and Merlucciidae (hake). These species are staples in many global cuisines, particularly in Europe and North America, prized for their mild flavor and flaky white flesh. Trade involves significant volumes of wild-caught fish, often shipped as whole fish or large cuts for further processing into consumer-ready products or for the food service industry. Major fishing nations in the North Atlantic and Pacific are key exporters, supplying large consumer markets. Maintaining the cold chain is paramount to ensure product quality and safety during international transit.

What products fall under HS code 030453?

Fresh cod portions (bone-in), chilled haddock meat, fresh hake steaks, minced pollock meat, fresh ling meat, chilled whiting meat, fresh saithe chunks

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030453?

This code can be confused with 030482 (frozen fillets of cod, haddock, etc.) or 030493 (other frozen meat of these families), as the distinction lies in the preservation method and whether it's a fillet.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030453?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030453 in UN Comtrade data were Iceland ($12M, 55% of world exports), Denmark ($2.3M) and Poland ($2.2M). World exports came to about $21M, 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 030453?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030453 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($72M, 59% of world imports), France ($35M) and Canada ($4.0M). World imports came to about $123M, 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 030453 structured?

HS code 030453 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (03) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (04) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (53) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030453?

In Brazil, HS code 030453 is NCM 0304.53.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.