Product classification
HS code for Cooked pork shoulder: 1602.42
Meat preparations, of swine, shoulders and cuts thereof, prepared or preserved (excluding homogenised preparations).
Classification of cooked pork shoulder under HS 1602.42
Cooked pork shoulder is classified under HS code 1602.42. This code falls under Chapter 16 (Preparations of meat) and heading 1602 (Other prepared or preserved meat). The classification logic follows the same principles as cooked ham, but focuses on the specific anatomical cut of the swine. Subheading 1602.42 is explicitly for 'shoulders and cuts thereof.' Because the product has been cooked (e.g., roasted, boiled, or braised), it is considered a 'preparation' and is thus excluded from Chapter 2, which only allows for raw, salted, dried, or smoked meats. The distinction between 1602.41 (ham) and 1602.42 (shoulder) is strictly anatomical. In the meat industry, the shoulder (foreleg) is often processed similarly to the ham (hind leg), sometimes being sold as 'picnic ham,' but for customs purposes, the origin of the cut determines the code.
- Covers
- Cooked pork shoulder roasts
- Boiled picnic shoulder
- Sliced cooked pork shoulder
- Canned pork shoulder preparations
- Pulled pork (if made exclusively from shoulder)
- Also under 1602.42
- Spam (shoulder-based)
- Tulip Pork Shoulder
- Hormel Pulled Pork
- Zwan Luncheon Meat
- Fray Bentos Canned Pork
Codes often confused with 1602.42
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification is using 1602.41 (ham). While 'picnic hams' are commercially marketed as ham, they are anatomically shoulders and must be classified under 1602.42. Another error is using 0210.12 (pork bellies) or 0210.19 if the user assumes the smoking process is the primary characteristic, ignoring the fact that the product has been fully cooked. Once meat is cooked, it cannot stay in Chapter 2 and must move to Chapter 16.
Top exporters and importers of HS 160242 (the code used for cooked pork shoulder), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 160242 (the code used for cooked pork shoulder) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 76% 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 160242, not only cooked pork shoulder.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $102M 35% of world exports
- 2 Chile $48M 16% of world exports
- 3 Ireland $30M 10% of world exports
World total: $290M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $439M 76% of world imports
- 2 Germany $19M 3.2% of world imports
- 3 Panama $14M 2.5% of world imports
World total: $581M 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 code for cooked pork shoulder
Brazil classifies cooked pork shoulder under NCM 1602.42.00: HS 1602.42 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
Questions about cooked pork shoulder
What is the HS code for Cooked pork shoulder?
The HS code for Cooked pork shoulder is 160242 (Meat preparations; of swine, shoulders and cuts thereof, prepared or preserved (excluding homogenised preparations)). The HS code for cooked pork shoulder is 1602.42. This covers all prepared or preserved cuts from the foreleg of the swine.
How do I classify Cooked pork shoulder for customs?
Cooked pork shoulder is classified under HS code 160242 — Meat preparations; of swine, shoulders and cuts thereof, prepared or preserved (excluding homogenised preparations). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the product contains both ham and shoulder?
If the product is a mixture of different cuts of swine, it may fall under 1602.49 (other, including mixtures), depending on the proportions and the specific nature of the preparation.
Which countries are the top exporters of cooked pork shoulder (HS 160242)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 160242 (the code used for cooked pork shoulder) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($102M, 35% of world exports), Chile ($48M) and Ireland ($30M). World exports came to about $290M, 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 cooked pork shoulder (HS 160242)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 160242 (the code used for cooked pork shoulder) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($439M, 76% of world imports), Germany ($19M) and Panama ($14M). World imports came to about $581M, 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 Cooked pork shoulder the same in all countries?
The base HS code 160242 for Cooked pork shoulder 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 cooked pork shoulder in Brazil?
In Brazil, cooked pork shoulder (HS 160242) is classified under NCM 1602.42.00.