Product classification
HS code for Fresh eel meat: 0304.51
Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced, fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads.
Classification of fresh eel meat under HS 0304.51
Fresh eel meat, excluding fillets, is classified under HS code 0304.51. This classification falls under Chapter 3 and heading 0304, which covers fish fillets and other fish meat. While fillets have their own subheadings, the "other fish meat" category (subheadings 0304.51 through 0304.59 for fresh/chilled) includes meat that has been minced or cut into pieces that do not meet the definition of a fillet. Subheading 0304.51 is species-specific, covering eels, tilapias, catfish, carp, Nile perch, and snakeheads. This classification is used for products like minced eel meat or meat scraps recovered during processing. The product must be in a fresh or chilled state. This distinction is important for trade statistics and for applying specific health and safety regulations related to minced or processed fish meat, which may have different shelf-life and contamination risks compared to whole fillets.
- Covers
- Fresh minced eel meat
- Chilled eel meat chunks (not fillets)
- Fresh eel meat trimmings
- Minced meat of Anguilla species
- Also under 0304.51
- Regal Springs Tilapia (meat)
- US Farm-Raised Catfish (meat)
- Vietnamese Pangasius (meat)
- Japanese Unagi (eel meat)
- Lake Victoria Nile Perch (meat)
Codes often confused with 0304.51
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification is between 0304.51 (meat/minced) and 0304.39 (fillets). If the meat is a clean strip cut parallel to the spine, it is a fillet. If it is minced or in irregular chunks, it is 0304.51. Another error is confusing fresh meat with frozen minced fish meat, which falls under 0304.93. Additionally, if the eel meat is prepared into sausages or similar products, it would be classified in Chapter 16 rather than Chapter 3.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030451 (the code used for fresh eel meat), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030451 (the code used for fresh eel meat) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 78% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Portugal, with 26% 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 030451, not only fresh eel meat.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $22M 78% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$3.1M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Thailand $1.4M 5.1% of world exports
World total: $28M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Portugal $3.4M 26% of world imports
- 2 Pakistan $2.6M 20% of world imports
- 3 Austria $1.5M 12% of world imports
World total: $13M 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 code for fresh eel meat
Brazil classifies fresh eel meat under NCM 0304.51.00: HS 0304.51 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about fresh eel meat
What is the HS code for Fresh eel meat?
The HS code for Fresh eel meat is 030451 (Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads). The HS code for fresh or chilled eel meat (excluding fillets) is 0304.51.
How do I classify Fresh eel meat for customs?
Fresh eel meat is classified under HS code 030451 — Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; fresh or chilled, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Difference between 0304.51 and 0304.39?
HS code 0304.51 is for minced meat or non-fillet cuts, while 0304.39 is specifically for eel fillets.
Which countries are the top exporters of fresh eel meat (HS 030451)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030451 (the code used for fresh eel meat) in UN Comtrade data were China ($22M, 78% of world exports), Vietnam (about $3.1M) and Thailand ($1.4M). World exports came to about $28M, 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 eel meat (HS 030451)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030451 (the code used for fresh eel meat) in UN Comtrade data were Portugal ($3.4M, 26% of world imports), Pakistan ($2.6M) and Austria ($1.5M). World imports came to about $13M, 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 eel meat the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030451 for Fresh eel meat 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 eel meat in Brazil?
In Brazil, fresh eel meat (HS 030451) is classified under NCM 0304.51.00.