Product classification

HS code for Live crustaceans: 0306.39

Crustaceans, live, fresh or chilled, n.e.c. in item no. 0306.3, in shell or not.

Classification of live crustaceans under HS 0306.39

Live crustaceans classified under HS code 0306.39 are categorized based on their biological state and the level of processing they have undergone. Chapter 3 of the Harmonized System is dedicated to fish and crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates. Within this chapter, heading 0306 specifically addresses crustaceans, whether in shell or not. The subheading 0306.39 serves as a residual category for live, fresh, or chilled crustaceans that are not explicitly named in the preceding subheadings, such as rock lobsters, lobsters, crabs, Norway lobsters, or shrimps and prawns. Classification here requires that the product has not been frozen, dried, salted, or cooked by steaming or boiling in water. According to General Interpretative Rule 1, classification is determined by the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes. Since this product is live and does not fall under the specific species-named codes, it is relegated to the 'other' category 0306.39. This ensures that less common species or specific varieties of live crustaceans are captured under a standardized code, provided they meet the criteria of being live, fresh, or chilled and have not been subjected to preservation methods beyond simple chilling.

Covers
  • Live freshwater crayfish
  • Live mantis shrimp
  • Fresh or chilled barnacles
  • Live slipper lobsters
  • Fresh or chilled krill (not frozen)
  • Live langoustines (if not classified as Norway lobsters)
Also under 0306.39
  • Alaskan Dungeness Crab (live)
  • Australian Mud Crab (live)
  • Florida Stone Crab (fresh)
  • Vietnamese Blue Crab (chilled)
  • Louisiana Crawfish (live)

Codes often confused with 0306.39

Common mistake. A frequent error involves confusing 0306.39 with 0306.17 or 0306.19, which cover frozen crustaceans. If the product has been frozen to any degree for preservation, it must move to the 0306.1x series. Another common mistake is using 1605, which is reserved for crustaceans that have been prepared or preserved beyond simple chilling or steaming in shell, such as those that are peeled and then cooked or canned. Additionally, if the crustaceans are dead and not fresh or chilled (e.g., dried or salted), they should be classified under 0306.99.

0306.17Crustaceans; frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding cold-water varieties, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water0306.19Crustaceans; frozen, n.e.c. in item no. 0306.1, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water03.06Crustaceans; in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, steamed or boiled, whether or not chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine16.05Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved0306.99Crustaceans; smoked, whole, cooked or not, n.e.c. in item no. 0306.9, in shell or not

Top exporters and importers of HS 030639 (the code used for live crustaceans), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030639 (the code used for live crustaceans) in UN Comtrade data was Myanmar, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 54% 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 030639, not only live crustaceans.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Myanmar $8.4M
  2. 2 Thailand $6.4M
  3. 3 France $4.3M

World total: $38M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $66M
  2. 2 Hong Kong $24M
  3. 3 Italy $5.9M

World total: $122M 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 live crustaceans

Brazil splits HS 0306.39 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 0306.39.10Live, fresh or chilled freshwater crayfish
  • 0306.39.90Other live, fresh or chilled crustaceans

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about live crustaceans

What is the HS code for Live crustaceans?

The HS code for Live crustaceans is 030639 (Crustaceans; live, fresh or chilled, n.e.c. in item no. 0306.3, in shell or not). The HS code for live crustaceans not specifically named elsewhere (like crabs or lobsters) is 0306.39.

How do I classify Live crustaceans for customs?

Live crustaceans is classified under HS code 030639 — Crustaceans; live, fresh or chilled, n.e.c. in item no. 0306.3, in shell or not. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include crustaceans that are cooked?

No, 0306.39 is strictly for live, fresh, or chilled products. Cooked crustaceans, even if chilled, are generally classified under 0306.31 through 0306.36 if cooked in shell by steaming or boiling, or under heading 1605 if further prepared.

Which countries are the top exporters of live crustaceans (HS 030639)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030639 (the code used for live crustaceans) in UN Comtrade data were Myanmar ($8.4M, 22% of world exports), Thailand ($6.4M) and France ($4.3M). World exports came to about $38M, 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 live crustaceans (HS 030639)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 030639 (the code used for live crustaceans) in UN Comtrade data were China ($66M, 54% of world imports), Hong Kong ($24M) and Italy ($5.9M). World imports came to about $122M, 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 Live crustaceans the same in all countries?

The base HS code 030639 for Live crustaceans 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 live crustaceans in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 030639 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for live crustaceans depends on the product's details: 0306.39.10 (Live, fresh or chilled freshwater crayfish), 0306.39.90 (Other live, fresh or chilled crustaceans).