HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0305.69 – Fish; salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, other than edible fish offal, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.6

HS code 0305.69 is the 6-digit subheading for fish, salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, other than edible fish offal, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.6. It is used for salted herring, brined mackerel fillets, salted sardines, brined hake and salted pollock.

What HS 0305.69 covers

This 'not elsewhere specified' HS code serves as a crucial catch-all for various other fish species that are salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, and not edible offal, which are not specifically covered by other codes within 0305.6. This category facilitates the international trade of a wide array of fish, from herring and mackerel to pollock and sardines, often catering to niche markets, regional culinary traditions, or as ingredients for further processing. Importers might be looking for unique flavors, cost-effective protein sources, or specific fish types for traditional dishes. Exporters capitalize on local catches and time-honored preservation techniques. Understanding this code is vital for accurately classifying diverse salted and brined fish products that fall outside the more specific categories, ensuring proper customs procedures and market access for these varied seafood items.

Covers
  • Salted herring
  • Brined mackerel fillets
  • Salted sardines
  • Brined hake
  • Salted pollock
  • Brined trout
  • Salted sprats.
Examples
  • Matjes Herring (salted)
  • Pickled Mackerel
  • Salted Sardines from Portugal
  • Brined Pollock Fillets.

Codes often confused with 0305.69

Common mistake. As a residual category, misclassification often happens when a specific fish type should fall under 030561-030564 but is incorrectly placed here, or if it's dried (030559) instead of salted/brined.

0305.61Fish; salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, other than edible fish offal, herrings (Clupea harengas, Clupea pallasii)0305.64Fish; salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, other than edible fish offal, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads0305.59Fish; dried, whether or not salted but not smoked, other than edible fish offal, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.5

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030569, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030569 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Spain, with 19% 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 $19M
  2. 2 Canada $14M
  3. 3 Iceland $12M

World total: $110M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Spain $25M
  2. 2 United States $18M
  3. 3 Uganda $13M

World total: $127M 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 0305.69 2

Brazil splits HS 0305.69 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 0305.69.10 Salted or brined saithe, ling and tuskSaithe (Pollachius virens), ling (Molva molva) e zarbo (Brosme brosme)
  2. 0305.69.90 Other salted or brined fishOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 03.05 →

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

Questions about HS 0305.69

What is HS code 030569?

HS code 030569 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Fish; salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, other than edible fish offal, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.6. This 'not elsewhere specified' HS code serves as a crucial catch-all for various other fish species that are salted or in brine, not dried or smoked, and not edible offal, which are not specifically covered by other codes within 0305.6. This category facilitates the international trade of a wide array of fish, from herring and mackerel to pollock and sardines, often catering to niche markets, regional culinary traditions, or as ingredients for further processing. Importers might be looking for unique flavors, cost-effective protein sources, or specific fish types for traditional dishes. Exporters capitalize on local catches and time-honored preservation techniques. Understanding this code is vital for accurately classifying diverse salted and brined fish products that fall outside the more specific categories, ensuring proper customs procedures and market access for these varied seafood items.

What products fall under HS code 030569?

Salted herring, brined mackerel fillets, salted sardines, brined hake, salted pollock, brined trout, salted sprats.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030569?

As a residual category, misclassification often happens when a specific fish type should fall under 030561-030564 but is incorrectly placed here, or if it's dried (030559) instead of salted/brined.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030569?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030569 in UN Comtrade data were China ($19M, 17% of world exports), Canada ($14M) and Iceland ($12M). World exports came to about $110M, 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 030569?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030569 in UN Comtrade data were Spain ($25M, 19% of world imports), the United States ($18M) and Uganda ($13M). World imports came to about $127M, 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 030569 structured?

HS code 030569 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (03) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (05) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (69) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030569?

Brazil splits HS code 030569 into 2 NCM codes: 0305.69.10 (Salted or brined saithe, ling and tusk), 0305.69.90 (Other salted or brined fish). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.