Product classification
HS code for Fresh bone-in beef cuts: 0201.20
Meat, of bovine animals, cuts with bone in (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses), fresh or chilled.
Classification of fresh bone-in beef cuts under HS 0201.20
Fresh bone-in beef cuts are classified under HS code 020120. This classification is governed by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) and the specific nomenclature of Chapter 2, which covers meat and edible meat offal. Specifically, heading 0201 is reserved for meat of bovine animals that is fresh or chilled. The subheading 020120 is designated for cuts that retain their skeletal bone structure, excluding whole carcasses and half-carcasses. For a product to be classified here, it must be in a fresh or chilled state, meaning it has been kept at a temperature above freezing (typically between 0°C and 4°C) to maintain its natural state without the formation of ice crystals. The presence of bone is a primary determinant, as it distinguishes these products from boneless cuts. This classification is critical for customs valuation, as bone-in meat often carries different weight-based duties and sanitary requirements compared to boneless or frozen alternatives.
- Covers
- Rib-eye steaks with bone attached
- T-bone and Porterhouse steaks
- Short ribs (fresh or chilled)
- Bone-in beef shanks
- Bone-in brisket cuts
- Prime rib roasts
- Also under 0201.20
- Certified Angus Beef (CAB) bone-in cuts
- Wagyu beef brands
- local butcher shops sourcing international cuts
Codes often confused with 0201.20
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 020110, which is strictly for whole carcasses or half-carcasses. Additionally, 020130 is often confused with this code, but it is exclusively for boneless cuts. Another common error involves the thermal state; if the bone-in beef is frozen, it must be classified under 020220 rather than 020120. Importers must ensure the temperature logs support the "fresh or chilled" status to avoid penalties.
Top exporters and importers of HS 020120 (the code used for fresh bone-in beef cuts), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 020120 (the code used for fresh bone-in beef cuts) in UN Comtrade data was Poland, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 21% 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 020120, not only fresh bone-in beef cuts.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Poland $1.5B 19% of world exports
- 2 France $834M 10% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $826M 10% of world exports
World total: $8.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Italy $1.6B 21% of world imports
- 2 United States $1.1B 14% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $618M 7.9% of world imports
World total: $7.8B 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 codes for fresh bone-in beef cuts
Brazil splits HS 0201.20 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 0201.20.10Bone-in beef forequarters, fresh or chilled
- 0201.20.20Bone-in beef hindquarters, fresh or chilled
- 0201.20.90Other bone-in beef cuts, fresh or chilled
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about fresh bone-in beef cuts
What is the HS code for Fresh bone-in beef cuts?
The HS code for Fresh bone-in beef cuts is 020120 (Meat; of bovine animals, cuts with bone in (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses), fresh or chilled).
How do I classify Fresh bone-in beef cuts for customs?
Fresh bone-in beef cuts is classified under HS code 020120 — Meat; of bovine animals, cuts with bone in (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses), fresh or chilled. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for fresh bone-in beef?
The HS code for fresh or chilled bone-in beef cuts is 020120.
What is the difference between 020120 and 020220?
The difference lies in the preservation method: 020120 is for fresh or chilled meat, while 020220 is for meat that has been frozen.
Which countries are the top exporters of fresh bone-in beef cuts (HS 020120)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 020120 (the code used for fresh bone-in beef cuts) in UN Comtrade data were Poland ($1.5B, 19% of world exports), France ($834M) and the Netherlands ($826M). World exports came to about $8.0B, 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 fresh bone-in beef cuts (HS 020120)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 020120 (the code used for fresh bone-in beef cuts) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($1.6B, 21% of world imports), the United States ($1.1B) and the Netherlands ($618M). World imports came to about $7.8B, 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 Fresh bone-in beef cuts the same in all countries?
The base HS code 020120 for Fresh bone-in beef cuts 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 fresh bone-in beef cuts in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 020120 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for fresh bone-in beef cuts depends on the product's details: 0201.20.10 (Bone-in beef forequarters, fresh or chilled), 0201.20.20 (Bone-in beef hindquarters, fresh or chilled), 0201.20.90 (Other bone-in beef cuts, fresh or chilled).