HS code · 4-digit heading

HS Code 16.05 – Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved

What HS 16.05 covers

Heading 1605 covers prepared or preserved crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates, distinguishing them from their fresh, chilled, or simply frozen counterparts in Chapter 03. This classification is vital for global seafood trade, encompassing a vast range of products that have undergone significant processing to enhance shelf-life, flavor, or convenience. Examples include cooked frozen shrimp, canned crab meat, smoked mussels, pickled octopus, and prepared sea urchin roe. The scope extends to any form of preparation or preservation beyond simple refrigeration or freezing, such as cooking, drying, salting, brining, smoking, or canning. This includes products like surimi-based imitation crab meat, cooked lobster tails, and prepared escargots. The clear demarcation from raw or minimally processed seafood is critical for accurate customs declarations, ensuring compliance with diverse national and international food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and import quotas. For trade compliance professionals, understanding the specific processing method is key to proper classification and avoiding delays or penalties. The trade in these products reflects global culinary preferences and the increasing demand for ready-to-eat seafood. This heading's placement in Section IV, 'Prepared Foodstuffs,' underscores its role in the processed food sector, where value is added through cooking, seasoning, and preservation, making these items ready for direct consumption or further culinary applications.

Covers
  • Cooked frozen shrimp
  • Canned crab meat
  • Smoked mussels
  • Pickled octopus
  • Calamari rings (cooked/breaded)
  • Surimi-based crab sticks
  • Dried scallops
  • Sea urchin roe (processed)
  • Canned oysters
  • Squid in oil
  • Cooked frozen prawns
  • Marinated conch
  • Abalone (canned/dried)
  • Prepared jellyfish
  • Cooked crawfish tails
  • Escargots (prepared)
  • Cuttlefish (cooked/frozen)
  • Lobster bisque (prepared)
  • Clam chowder (prepared)
  • Breaded shrimp
  • Marinated seafood mix.
Examples

A large US importer brings in containers of cooked frozen shrimp from Vietnam, navigating extensive FDA inspections and strict cold chain logistics. A French specialty food company exports canned escargots to gourmet markets in Japan, requiring adherence to specific packaging and labeling standards. A Chinese enterprise ships prepared jellyfish to Southeast Asian countries, serving as a popular ingredient in regional cuisines and adhering to diverse cultural food regulations. A Canadian seafood producer exports cooked lobster meat to high-end restaurants and retailers across Europe, often leveraging free trade agreements to minimize tariffs.

Subheadings under 16.05 18

1605.10Crustacean preparations; crab, prepared or preserved1605.21Crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, not in airtight containers1605.29Crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, in airtight containers1605.30Crustacean preparations; lobster, prepared or preserved1605.40Crustacean preparations; other than crab, shrimps, prawns, and lobsters, prepared or preserved1605.51Mollusc preparations; oysters, prepared or preserved1605.52Mollusc preparations; scallops, including queen scallops, prepared or preserved1605.53Mollusc preparations; mussels, prepared or preserved1605.54Mollusc preparations; cuttle fish and squid, prepared or preserved1605.55Mollusc preparations; octopus, prepared or preserved1605.56Mollusc preparations; clams, cockles and arkshells, prepared or preserved1605.57Mollusc preparations; abalone, prepared or preserved1605.58Mollusc preparations; snails, other than sea snails, prepared or preserved1605.59Mollusc preparations; n.e.c. in item no. 1605.5, preparations such as pastes, sausages, prepared meals and the like1605.61Aquatic invertebrates; sea cucumbers, prepared or preserved1605.62Aquatic invertebrates; sea urchins, prepared or preserved1605.63Aquatic invertebrates; jellyfish, prepared or preserved1605.69Aquatic invertebrates; other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and jellyfish, prepared or preserved

18 Brazil NCM codes in heading 16.05 →

Codes often confused with 16.05

Common mistake. A common misclassification error for products under 1605 is confusing them with those in Chapter 03 ('Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates'). The distinction lies in the level of processing: 1605 applies when crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates are prepared or preserved beyond simple chilling or freezing (e.g., cooked, canned, smoked). For example, raw frozen shrimp is 0306, while cooked frozen shrimp is 1605. Another mistake is classifying highly processed items with a minor invertebrate content under 1605 when they might be more appropriately classified under 2106 ('Food preparations not elsewhere specified'), if the invertebrate is not the primary component. Lastly, inedible aquatic invertebrates or waste are classified under Chapter 05.

03.06Crustaceans; 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 brine21.06Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included

Top exporters and importers of HS code 1605, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 1605 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 32% 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 $4.1B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$1.8B
  3. 3 Indonesia $1.0B

World total: $13.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $3.4B
  2. 2 Japan $1.3B
  3. 3 South Korea $569M

World total: $10.5B 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.

Questions about HS 16.05

What is HS code 1605?

HS code 1605 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved. Heading 1605 covers prepared or preserved crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates, distinguishing them from their fresh, chilled, or simply frozen counterparts in Chapter 03. This classification is vital for global seafood trade, encompassing a vast range of products that have undergone significant processing to enhance shelf-life, flavor, or convenience. Examples include cooked frozen shrimp, canned crab meat, smoked mussels, pickled octopus, and prepared sea urchin roe. The scope extends to any form of preparation or preservation beyond simple refrigeration or freezing, such as cooking, drying, salting, brining, smoking, or canning. This includes products like surimi-based imitation crab meat, cooked lobster tails, and prepared escargots. The clear demarcation from raw or minimally processed seafood is critical for accurate customs declarations, ensuring compliance with diverse national and international food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and import quotas. For trade compliance professionals, understanding the specific processing method is key to proper classification and avoiding delays or penalties. The trade in these products reflects global culinary preferences and the increasing demand for ready-to-eat seafood. This heading's placement in Section IV, 'Prepared Foodstuffs,' underscores its role in the processed food sector, where value is added through cooking, seasoning, and preservation, making these items ready for direct consumption or further culinary applications.

What products fall under HS code 1605?

Cooked frozen shrimp, canned crab meat, smoked mussels, pickled octopus, calamari rings (cooked/breaded), surimi-based crab sticks, dried scallops, sea urchin roe (processed), canned oysters, squid in oil, cooked frozen prawns, marinated conch, abalone (canned/dried), prepared jellyfish, cooked crawfish tails, escargots (prepared), cuttlefish (cooked/frozen), lobster bisque (prepared), clam chowder (prepared), breaded shrimp, marinated seafood mix.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 1605?

A common misclassification error for products under 1605 is confusing them with those in Chapter 03 ('Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates'). The distinction lies in the level of processing: 1605 applies when crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates are prepared or preserved beyond simple chilling or freezing (e.g., cooked, canned, smoked). For example, raw frozen shrimp is 0306, while cooked frozen shrimp is 1605. Another mistake is classifying highly processed items with a minor invertebrate content under 1605 when they might be more appropriately classified under 2106 ('Food preparations not elsewhere specified'), if the invertebrate is not the primary component. Lastly, inedible aquatic invertebrates or waste are classified under Chapter 05.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 1605?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1605 in UN Comtrade data were China ($4.1B, 32% of world exports), Vietnam (about $1.8B) and Indonesia ($1.0B). World exports came to about $13.0B, 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 1605?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 1605 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($3.4B, 32% of world imports), Japan ($1.3B) and South Korea ($569M). World imports came to about $10.5B, 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 1605 structured?

HS code 1605 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 16 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (16) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (05) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.