Product classification

HS code for Canned tuna: 1604.14

Fish preparations, tunas, skipjack tuna and bonito (Sarda spp.), prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced).

Classification of canned tuna under HS 1604.14

Canned tuna is classified under HS code 1604.14. This classification falls within Chapter 16, which encompasses preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates. Heading 1604 specifically covers prepared or preserved fish. The subheading 1604.14 is designated for tunas, skipjack, and bonito (Sarda spp.) that are prepared or preserved whole or in pieces, but not minced. The canning process involves cleaning, precooking, and sealing the fish in containers with a liquid medium such as vegetable oil, brine, or spring water, followed by thermal sterilization. This level of processing excludes the product from Chapter 03, which is reserved for fish that is merely fresh, chilled, or frozen. The classification 1604.14 applies to various species of tuna, including Albacore, Yellowfin, and Skipjack, provided the fish retains its structural integrity as chunks, flakes, or solid fillets within the can.

Covers
  • Canned tuna in sunflower oil
  • Canned tuna in brine
  • Skipjack tuna chunks in water
  • Solid white albacore tuna
  • Tuna fillets in olive oil
  • Canned bonito in oil
Also under 1604.14
  • Starkist Canned Tuna
  • Bumble Bee Canned Tuna
  • Chicken of the Sea Canned Tuna
  • Genova Tuna
  • Rio Mare Tuna

Codes often confused with 1604.14

Common mistake. A frequent misclassification occurs with minced tuna or tuna pastes, which are classified under HS code 1604.20 rather than 1604.14. The distinction lies in the physical state of the fish; 1604.14 is strictly for fish "whole or in pieces." Another error involves fresh or frozen tuna intended for canning, which is classified under 0302 or 0303. Furthermore, tuna salads that contain a significant proportion of vegetables or mayonnaise may be classified under 1604.20 as other fish preparations.

1604.20Fish preparations; fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved03.02Fish; fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 030403.03Fish; frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304

Top exporters and importers of HS 160414 (the code used for canned tuna), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 160414 (the code used for canned tuna) in UN Comtrade data was Thailand, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 12% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 160414, not only canned tuna.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Thailand $2.5B
  2. 2 Ecuador $1.7B
  3. 3 China $917M

World total: $9.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $1.2B
  2. 2 Spain $1.0B
  3. 3 Italy $1.0B

World total: $9.8B 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 canned tuna

Brazil splits HS 1604.14 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about canned tuna

What is the HS code for Canned tuna?

The HS code for Canned tuna is 160414 (Fish preparations; tunas, skipjack tuna and bonito (Sarda spp.), prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced)). The HS code for canned tuna, including skipjack and bonito, is 1604.14, provided it is prepared whole or in pieces.

How do I classify Canned tuna for customs?

Canned tuna is classified under HS code 160414 — Fish preparations; tunas, skipjack tuna and bonito (Sarda spp.), prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is canned tuna in oil classified differently than tuna in water?

No, both tuna in oil and tuna in water are classified under HS code 1604.14, as the liquid medium does not change the primary classification of the fish preparation.

Which countries are the top exporters of canned tuna (HS 160414)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 160414 (the code used for canned tuna) in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($2.5B, 25% of world exports), Ecuador ($1.7B) and China ($917M). World exports came to about $9.9B, 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 canned tuna (HS 160414)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 160414 (the code used for canned tuna) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.2B, 12% of world imports), Spain ($1.0B) and Italy ($1.0B). World imports came to about $9.8B, 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.

Is the HS code for Canned tuna the same in all countries?

The base HS code 160414 for Canned tuna is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.

What is the NCM code for canned tuna in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 160414 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for canned tuna depends on the product's details: 1604.14.10 (Prepared or preserved tuna, not minced), 1604.14.20 (Prepared or preserved skipjack tuna, not minced), 1604.14.30 (Prepared or preserved bonito).