Product classification
HS code for Chilled catfish meat: 0304.51
Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced, fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads.
Classification of chilled catfish meat under HS 0304.51
Chilled catfish meat is classified under HS code 0304.51. This code is part of Chapter 3, which covers fish and aquatic invertebrates. Heading 0304 is specifically for fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled, or frozen. Subheading 0304.51 is a specific category for the fresh or chilled meat of tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads. Unlike whole fish (heading 0302) or fillets (which have their own subheadings within 0304), this code is intended for fish meat that has been removed from the bones but is not presented as a discrete fillet. This often includes minced fish meat or small pieces of meat obtained during the filleting process, provided they are maintained in a fresh or chilled state and have not been frozen.
- Covers
- Fresh minced catfish meat
- Chilled catfish meat scraps from filleting
- Mechanically deboned catfish meat (fresh or chilled)
- Fresh catfish meat blocks (not frozen)
- Chilled catfish meat intended for sausage or cake production
- Also under 0304.51
- Regal Springs Tilapia (meat)
- US Farm-Raised Catfish (meat)
- Vietnamese Pangasius (meat)
- Japanese Unagi (eel meat)
- Lake Victoria Nile Perch (meat)
Codes often confused with 0304.51
Common mistake. Catfish meat is frequently misclassified under HS code 0304.32, which is specifically for catfish fillets. The distinction lies in the form: fillets are the longitudinal slices of fish, whereas 0304.51 is for \"other meat\" such as mince. Another common error is using 0304.93, which is for frozen meat of catfish and related species. If the catfish is presented whole or gutted (not as meat/mince), it would fall under 0302.72. Importers must also ensure they do not use 0304.59, which is a catch-all for other fresh or chilled fish meat not specifically named in the preceding subheadings.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030451 (the code used for chilled catfish meat), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030451 (the code used for chilled catfish meat) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 78% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Portugal, with 26% 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 030451, not only chilled catfish meat.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $22M 78% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$3.1M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Thailand $1.4M 5.1% of world exports
World total: $28M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Portugal $3.4M 26% of world imports
- 2 Pakistan $2.6M 20% of world imports
- 3 Austria $1.5M 12% of world imports
World total: $13M 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.
Brazil NCM code for chilled catfish meat
Brazil classifies chilled catfish meat under NCM 0304.51.00: HS 0304.51 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chilled catfish meat
What is the HS code for Chilled catfish meat?
The HS code for Chilled catfish meat is 030451 (Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads). The HS code for fresh or chilled catfish meat (excluding fillets) is 0304.51.
How do I classify Chilled catfish meat for customs?
Chilled catfish meat is classified under HS code 030451 — Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between 0304.32 and 0304.51?
HS code 0304.32 is for catfish fillets, while 0304.51 is for other catfish meat, such as minced meat or trimmings, in a fresh or chilled state.
Which countries are the top exporters of chilled catfish meat (HS 030451)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030451 (the code used for chilled catfish meat) in UN Comtrade data were China ($22M, 78% of world exports), Vietnam (about $3.1M) and Thailand ($1.4M). World exports came to about $28M, 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 chilled catfish meat (HS 030451)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030451 (the code used for chilled catfish meat) in UN Comtrade data were Portugal ($3.4M, 26% of world imports), Pakistan ($2.6M) and Austria ($1.5M). World imports came to about $13M, 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 Chilled catfish meat the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030451 for Chilled catfish meat 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 chilled catfish meat in Brazil?
In Brazil, chilled catfish meat (HS 030451) is classified under NCM 0304.51.00.