Product classification
HS code for Fresh catfish: 0302.72
Fish, fresh or chilled, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99.
Classification of fresh catfish under HS 0302.72
Fresh catfish is classified under HS code 030272. This classification falls under the category of fresh or chilled fish, excluding fillets and other fish meat. The subheading 030272 is specifically reserved for catfish belonging to the families Pangasius, Silurus, Clarias, and Ictalurus. These families include the most commercially relevant species such as Basa, Tra, and Channel catfish. To be classified under this code, the fish must be presented whole, or with the head and guts removed, but the sides must remain attached to the backbone. The temperature of the product must be maintained just above freezing to meet the "fresh or chilled" criteria. This specific code allows customs and trade organizations to track the movement of catfish separately from other freshwater fish, which is particularly important given the high volume of catfish trade and the specific anti-dumping duties that apply to these species in certain jurisdictions.
- Covers
- Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
- Basa and Tra (Pangasius spp.)
- African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
- European catfish (Silurus glanis)
- Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
- Also under 0302.72
- Vietnamese Basa (Pangasius hypophthalmus)
- Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
- Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis)
- African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Codes often confused with 0302.72
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification is using 030432, which is the code for catfish fillets. If the fish has been filleted, it must be moved to heading 0304. Another error is using 030324, which is for frozen catfish. Furthermore, if the catfish species does not belong to the four specified families (Pangasius, Silurus, Clarias, Ictalurus), it would be classified under 030289 as "Other fish."
Top exporters and importers of HS 030272 (the code used for fresh catfish), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030272 (the code used for fresh catfish) in UN Comtrade data was Bangladesh, with about 90% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 69% 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 030272, not only fresh catfish.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Bangladesh* ~$50M 90% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 India $2.5M 4.4% of world exports
- 3 Thailand $1.2M 2.1% of world exports
World total: $55M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $49M 69% of world imports
- 2 Malaysia $15M 21% of world imports
- 3 Nepal* ~$1.4M 1.9% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $72M 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 codes for fresh catfish
Brazil splits HS 0302.72 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 0302.72.10Fresh or chilled channel catfish
- 0302.72.90Other fresh or chilled catfish
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about fresh catfish
What is the HS code for Fresh catfish?
The HS code for Fresh catfish is 030272 (Fish; fresh or chilled, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99). The HS code for fresh or chilled whole catfish is 030272.
How do I classify Fresh catfish for customs?
Fresh catfish is classified under HS code 030272 — Fish; fresh or chilled, catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are Basa and Swai included in this code?
Yes, Basa and Swai (Pangasius species) are classified under 030272 when they are imported fresh and whole (or headed/gutted).
Which countries are the top exporters of fresh catfish (HS 030272)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030272 (the code used for fresh catfish) in UN Comtrade data were Bangladesh (about $50M, 90% of world exports), India ($2.5M) and Thailand ($1.2M). World exports came to about $55M, 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 catfish (HS 030272)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030272 (the code used for fresh catfish) in UN Comtrade data were India ($49M, 69% of world imports), Malaysia ($15M) and Nepal (about $1.4M). World imports came to about $72M, 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 catfish the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030272 for Fresh catfish 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 catfish in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 030272 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for fresh catfish depends on the product's details: 0302.72.10 (Fresh or chilled channel catfish), 0302.72.90 (Other fresh or chilled catfish).