Product classification

HS code for Chilled rock lobster: 0306.31

Crustaceans, live, fresh or chilled, rock lobsters and other sea crawfish (Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp., Jasus spp.), in shell or not.

Classification of chilled rock lobster under HS 0306.31

HS code 0306.31 is the international standard for classifying live, fresh, or chilled rock lobsters and other sea crawfish. This classification is part of Chapter 3, which governs the trade of aquatic invertebrates. Heading 0306 specifically addresses crustaceans, whether in shell or not, and whether live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, or in brine. The subheading 0306.31 is restricted to the genera Palinurus, Panulirus, and Jasus, commonly known as spiny lobsters or rock lobsters. It is important to distinguish these from the "true" lobsters of the genus Homarus. The classification covers the animals in their live state or preserved through chilling, which involves lowering the temperature to near 0°C without freezing the tissue. This code is essential for applying specific tariffs and managing quotas for high-value seafood exports.

Covers
  • Live spiny lobsters
  • Chilled rock lobsters (whole)
  • Fresh sea crawfish
  • Chilled Palinurus spp.
  • Live Jasus spp.
Also under 0306.31
  • Western Rock Lobster Council (Australia)
  • Clearwater Seafoods
  • various high-end seafood distributors
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Luke's Lobster

Codes often confused with 0306.31

Common mistake. A common error is confusing rock lobsters with "true" lobsters (Homarus spp.), which are classified under 0306.32. If the rock lobster is frozen, it must be classified under 0306.11. Furthermore, if the lobster has been cooked (e.g., boiled in water) and then chilled, it may still fall under 0306, but if it is prepared or preserved in other ways (like canned lobster meat), it moves to heading 1605.

0306.32Crustaceans; live, fresh or chilled, lobsters (Homarus spp.), whether in shell or not0306.11Crustaceans; frozen, rock lobsters and other sea crawfish (Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp., Jasus spp.), in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water03.06Crustaceans; 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 brine16.05Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved

Top exporters and importers of HS 030631 (the code used for chilled rock lobster), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030631 (the code used for chilled rock lobster) in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 88% 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 030631, not only chilled rock lobster.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Vietnam* ~$768M
  2. 2 Australia $482M
  3. 3 New Zealand $169M

World total: $1.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $1.5B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$57M
  3. 3 Hong Kong $47M

World total: $1.7B 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 rock lobster

Brazil classifies chilled rock lobster under NCM 0306.31.00: HS 0306.31 with 00 added.

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

Questions about chilled rock lobster

What is the HS code for Chilled rock lobster?

The HS code for Chilled rock lobster is 030631 (Crustaceans; live, fresh or chilled, rock lobsters and other sea crawfish (Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp., Jasus spp.), in shell or not). The HS code for live, fresh, or chilled rock lobsters and other sea crawfish is 0306.31.

How do I classify Chilled rock lobster for customs?

Chilled rock lobster is classified under HS code 030631 — Crustaceans; live, fresh or chilled, rock lobsters and other sea crawfish (Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp., Jasus spp.), in shell or not. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Difference between 0306.31 and 0306.32?

0306.31 is for rock/spiny lobsters (Palinurus, Panulirus, Jasus), while 0306.32 is for true lobsters (Homarus species like Maine or European lobsters).

Which countries are the top exporters of chilled rock lobster (HS 030631)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030631 (the code used for chilled rock lobster) in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $768M, 46% of world exports), Australia ($482M) and New Zealand ($169M). World exports came to about $1.7B, 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 rock lobster (HS 030631)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 030631 (the code used for chilled rock lobster) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.5B, 88% of world imports), Vietnam (about $57M) and Hong Kong ($47M). World imports came to about $1.7B, 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 rock lobster the same in all countries?

The base HS code 030631 for Chilled rock lobster 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 rock lobster in Brazil?

In Brazil, chilled rock lobster (HS 030631) is classified under NCM 0306.31.00.