HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 0308.90 – Aquatic invertebrates; other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and jellyfish, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking

HS code 0308.90 is the 6-digit subheading for aquatic invertebrates, other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and jellyfish, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking. It is used for sea squirts (tunicates), marine worms (e.g., lugworms, ragworms), sea anemones, live coral fragments (non-CITES) and processed sponges (non-industrial).

What HS 0308.90 covers

This 'basket' HS code covers a diverse range of aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and jellyfish, in various forms including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, brined, or smoked. This category captures the trade of less common or niche aquatic invertebrates, which might be used for specific culinary purposes, as bait, for aquaculture, or in scientific research. Importers and exporters vary widely depending on the specific species and its intended use, often involving regional trade flows or specialized markets. The trade in these 'other' invertebrates highlights the vast biodiversity utilized in global commerce, requiring careful identification to ensure correct classification and adherence to relevant trade regulations and conservation efforts.

Covers
  • Sea squirts (tunicates)
  • Marine worms (e.g., lugworms, ragworms)
  • Sea anemones
  • Live coral fragments (non-CITES)
  • Processed sponges (non-industrial)
  • Sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera)
Examples
  • Ascidians (e.g., 'Hoya' in Korea)
  • Polychaete worms (for bait)
  • Sea Anemone fritters
  • Caulerpa lentillifera (sea grapes) products

Codes often confused with 0308.90

Common mistake. This code is a catch-all for aquatic invertebrates not covered by more specific codes like 0308.11 (sea cucumbers), 0308.29 (sea urchins), or 0308.30 (jellyfish), and also excludes crustaceans (Chapter 0306) and molluscs (Chapter 0307).

0308.11Aquatic invertebrates; sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus, Holothuroidea), live, fresh or chilled0308.29Aquatic invertebrates; sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus spp., Paracentrotus lividus, Loxechinus albus, Echinus esculentus), dried, salted or in brine, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking process0308.30Aquatic invertebrates; jellyfish (Rhopilema spp.), live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking03.06Crustaceans; in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, steamed or boiled, whether or not chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine03.07Molluscs; whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked molluscs, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process

Top exporters and importers of HS code 030890, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 030890 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 27% 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 Poland $5.1M
  3. 3 Japan $5.1M

World total: $55M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Japan $19M
  2. 2 China $7.5M
  3. 3 Germany $5.9M

World total: $73M 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 0308.90

Brazil does not split HS 0308.90: its NCM code is 0308.90.00.

  1. 0308.90.00 Other aquatic invertebratesOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 03.08 →

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

Questions about HS 0308.90

What is HS code 030890?

HS code 030890 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Aquatic invertebrates; other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and jellyfish, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking. This 'basket' HS code covers a diverse range of aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and jellyfish, in various forms including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, brined, or smoked. This category captures the trade of less common or niche aquatic invertebrates, which might be used for specific culinary purposes, as bait, for aquaculture, or in scientific research. Importers and exporters vary widely depending on the specific species and its intended use, often involving regional trade flows or specialized markets. The trade in these 'other' invertebrates highlights the vast biodiversity utilized in global commerce, requiring careful identification to ensure correct classification and adherence to relevant trade regulations and conservation efforts.

What products fall under HS code 030890?

Sea squirts (tunicates), marine worms (e.g., lugworms, ragworms), sea anemones, live coral fragments (non-CITES), processed sponges (non-industrial), sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 030890?

This code is a catch-all for aquatic invertebrates not covered by more specific codes like 0308.11 (sea cucumbers), 0308.29 (sea urchins), or 0308.30 (jellyfish), and also excludes crustaceans (Chapter 0306) and molluscs (Chapter 0307).

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 030890?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 030890 in UN Comtrade data were China ($19M, 34% of world exports), Poland ($5.1M) and Japan ($5.1M). World exports came to about $55M, 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 030890?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 030890 in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($19M, 27% of world imports), China ($7.5M) and Germany ($5.9M). World imports came to about $73M, 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 030890 structured?

HS code 030890 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (03) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (08) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 030890?

In Brazil, HS code 030890 is NCM 0308.90.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.