Product classification
HS code for Chilled cobia: 0302.46
Fish, fresh or chilled, cobia (Rachycentron canadum), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99.
Classification of chilled cobia under HS 0302.46
Chilled cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is classified under HS code 0302.46. This classification is part of Chapter 3 (Fish and aquatic invertebrates) and Heading 0302 (Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fillets and other fish meat). The Harmonized System provides a specific subheading for cobia to facilitate the monitoring of trade for this specific species, which is increasingly significant in aquaculture. Classification under 0302.46 requires that the fish be fresh or chilled, meaning it has not been frozen, salted, dried, or smoked. The fish must be presented in a whole state or a dressed state (such as gutted or headed) that does not qualify as a fillet or minced meat under heading 0304. Proper temperature control is vital for this classification, as any evidence of freezing would shift the product to a different heading.
- Covers
- Whole fresh cobia
- Chilled cobia, gutted and cleaned
- Fresh cobia with head removed
- Chilled cobia packed in ice for wholesale
- Fresh Rachycentron canadum for retail display
- Also under 0302.46
- Open Blue Cobia
- US Farmed Cobia
- Vietnamese Cobia
- Taiwan Cobia
Codes often confused with 0302.46
Common mistake. Cobia is often misclassified under 0304.49 if it has been filleted, as heading 0304 covers fresh or chilled fillets. If the cobia is frozen, it must be classified under HS code 0303.59 (the residual category for other frozen fish, as there is no specific frozen subheading for cobia in many versions of the HS). Another error is placing it in 0302.89 (Other fresh or chilled fish), but since 0302.46 is the specific provision for cobia, it takes precedence according to GRI 3(a), which states that the most specific description shall be preferred over more general descriptions.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030246 (the code used for chilled cobia), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030246 (the code used for chilled cobia) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 52% 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.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 030246, not only chilled cobia.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $7.0M 52% of world exports
- 2 Panama $6.0M 45% of world exports
- 3 France $116K 0.9% of world exports
World total: $14M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $3.5M 32% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$3.4M 31% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Vietnam* ~$3.3M 30% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $11M 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 cobia
Brazil classifies chilled cobia under NCM 0302.46.00: HS 0302.46 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chilled cobia
What is the HS code for Chilled cobia?
The HS code for Chilled cobia is 030246 (Fish; fresh or chilled, cobia (Rachycentron canadum), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99). The specific HS code for fresh or chilled whole or dressed cobia is 0302.46.
How do I classify Chilled cobia for customs?
Chilled cobia is classified under HS code 030246 — Fish; fresh or chilled, cobia (Rachycentron canadum), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the cobia is frozen?
If the cobia is frozen, it is typically classified under HS code 0303.59, as it no longer meets the criteria for the fresh/chilled heading 0302.
Which countries are the top exporters of chilled cobia (HS 030246)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030246 (the code used for chilled cobia) in UN Comtrade data were China ($7.0M, 52% of world exports), Panama ($6.0M) and France ($116K). World exports came to about $14M, 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 cobia (HS 030246)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030246 (the code used for chilled cobia) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($3.5M, 32% of world imports), Taiwan (about $3.4M) and Vietnam (about $3.3M). World imports came to about $11M, 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 cobia the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030246 for Chilled cobia 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 cobia in Brazil?
In Brazil, chilled cobia (HS 030246) is classified under NCM 0302.46.00.