Product classification
HS code for Cuttlebone: 0508.00
Animal products, coral and similar materials, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof.
Classification of cuttlebone under HS 0508.00
Cuttlebone is classified under HS code 0508.00, which covers animal products such as coral, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, or echinoderms, and cuttle-bone. The primary requirement for classification under this heading is that the material must be unworked or simply prepared. "Simply prepared" generally includes processes like cleaning, drying, or basic cutting to remove waste, provided the material has not been cut to a specific shape for a final use. Cuttlebone, the internal skeletal structure of cuttlefish, is primarily composed of aragonite. It is widely used in the pet industry as a calcium-rich dietary supplement for birds and reptiles. Even when packaged for retail sale in the pet industry, it remains under 0508.00 as long as it has not been ground into a complex preparation with other ingredients. If the cuttlebone is pulverized into a fine powder, it still remains within this code as the heading explicitly includes "powder and waste thereof." However, if it were to be carved into decorative items or industrial molds, it would move to Chapter 96. The classification logic follows GRI 1, where the specific mention of "cuttle-bone" in the heading text of 0508 takes precedence over more general headings. It is also important to note that this heading excludes products that have been further worked than simply prepared, such as those that have been polished or shaped for jewelry, which would fall under 9601.
- Covers
- Raw cuttlebone
- Cleaned and dried cuttlebone
- Cuttlebone powder
- Cuttlebone waste
- Cuttlebone for bird cages
- Also under 0508.00
- Coral jewelry (raw material)
- pet bird cuttle-bone
- mother-of-pearl inlays in furniture
- shell craft supplies
- calcium supplements from shells
Codes often confused with 0508.00
Common mistake. Cuttlebone is often misclassified under 2309.90 (animal feed preparations) when sold in pet stores. However, unless it is mixed with other nutrients or processed into pellets, it remains in 0508.00. It is also sometimes confused with 9601.90 if it is perceived as a "worked" animal carving material.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050800 (the code used for cuttlebone), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050800 (the code used for cuttlebone) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 21% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 22% 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 050800, not only cuttlebone.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $30M 21% of world exports
- 2 Indonesia $18M 13% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $9.2M 6.4% of world exports
World total: $143M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $30M 22% of world imports
- 2 France $15M 11% of world imports
- 3 United States $11M 8.3% of world imports
World total: $138M 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 cuttlebone
Brazil classifies cuttlebone under NCM 0508.00.00: HS 0508.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cuttlebone
What is the HS code for Cuttlebone?
The HS code for Cuttlebone is 050800 (Animal products; coral and similar materials, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof). The HS code for cuttlebone, whether whole or in powder form, is 0508.00.
How do I classify Cuttlebone for customs?
Cuttlebone is classified under HS code 050800 — Animal products; coral and similar materials, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is cuttlebone considered a processed animal protein?
No, it is classified as a shell/bone material under 0508.00 and is generally not subject to the same regulations as processed animal proteins (PAPs) in heading 0511.
Which countries are the top exporters of cuttlebone (HS 050800)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050800 (the code used for cuttlebone) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($30M, 21% of world exports), Indonesia ($18M) and the Netherlands ($9.2M). World exports came to about $143M, 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 cuttlebone (HS 050800)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050800 (the code used for cuttlebone) in UN Comtrade data were China ($30M, 22% of world imports), France ($15M) and the United States ($11M). World imports came to about $138M, 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 Cuttlebone the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050800 for Cuttlebone 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 cuttlebone in Brazil?
In Brazil, cuttlebone (HS 050800) is classified under NCM 0508.00.00.