Product classification
HS code for Cured beef: 0210.20
Meat, salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals.
Classification of cured beef under HS 0210.20
Cured beef is classified under HS code 0210.20. This code is situated within Chapter 2, which covers meat and edible meat offal. Heading 0210 is specifically designated for meat that has been preserved through processes such as salting, brining, drying, or smoking. Subheading 0210.20 is the specific category for meat of bovine animals (beef) treated in this manner. The classification requires that the preservation process is the primary characteristic of the product. According to the Explanatory Notes, the meat must be deeply and homogenously impregnated with salt or have undergone a drying or smoking process that ensures preservation for more than just a short period. This code is essential for distinguishing preserved raw meat from fresh meat and from fully prepared or cooked meat products. The beef must not be cooked or further prepared beyond the preservation methods listed in the heading to remain within Chapter 2.
- Covers
- Beef biltong (if not cooked)
- Dried beef strips
- Salted beef in brine
- Smoked beef brisket (uncooked)
- Dehydrated beef jerky
- Also under 0210.20
- Libby's Corned Beef
- Jack Link's Beef Jerky
- Boar's Head Pastrami
- Stryve Biltong
- Cecina de León
- Vienna Beef Corned Beef
Codes often confused with 0210.20
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 1602.50, which covers prepared or preserved beef. If the beef has been cooked, boiled, fried, or grilled, it must be moved to Chapter 16. Another error is using 0201 or 0202, which are strictly for fresh, chilled, or frozen beef that has not undergone a curing or drying process. 0210.20 is specifically for the preservation methods of salting, drying, or smoking.
Top exporters and importers of HS 021020 (the code used for cured beef), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 021020 (the code used for cured beef) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was France, with 31% 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 021020, not only cured beef.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $117M 34% of world exports
- 2 Switzerland $60M 17% of world exports
- 3 Brazil $19M 5.5% of world exports
World total: $343M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 France $94M 31% of world imports
- 2 Germany $35M 12% of world imports
- 3 Spain $26M 8.7% of world imports
World total: $302M 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 cured beef
Brazil classifies cured beef under NCM 0210.20.00: HS 0210.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cured beef
What is the HS code for Cured beef?
The HS code for Cured beef is 021020 (Meat; salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals). The HS code for cured beef is 0210.20, which covers meat of bovine animals, salted, in brine, dried, or smoked.
How do I classify Cured beef for customs?
Cured beef is classified under HS code 021020 — Meat; salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is beef jerky always classified under 0210.20?
Not necessarily. If the jerky is simply dried and salted, it falls under 0210.20. However, if it is cooked or contains significant additives that make it a "prepared" food, it may fall under 1602.50.
Which countries are the top exporters of cured beef (HS 021020)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 021020 (the code used for cured beef) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($117M, 34% of world exports), Switzerland ($60M) and Brazil ($19M). World exports came to about $343M, 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 cured beef (HS 021020)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 021020 (the code used for cured beef) in UN Comtrade data were France ($94M, 31% of world imports), Germany ($35M) and Spain ($26M). World imports came to about $302M, 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 Cured beef the same in all countries?
The base HS code 021020 for Cured beef 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 cured beef in Brazil?
In Brazil, cured beef (HS 021020) is classified under NCM 0210.20.00.