Product classification
HS code for Minced fish: 1604.20
Fish preparations, fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved.
Classification of minced fish under HS 1604.20
Minced fish is classified under HS code 1604.20. Chapter 16 covers preparations of meat, fish, or of crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates. Heading 1604 is for prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs. Subheading 1604.20 covers "other" prepared or preserved fish, which includes fish that has been minced or finely chopped and then processed. The distinction between Chapter 3 (fresh, chilled, or frozen fish) and Chapter 16 (prepared fish) is crucial. Once fish has been minced and subjected to processing that goes beyond the simple preservation methods allowed in Chapter 3 (such as freezing or salting), it must be classified in Chapter 16. This includes products like surimi, fish pastes, or minced fish that has been heat-treated or mixed with other ingredients like starch, sugar, or spices to create a prepared food product.
- Covers
- Surimi (fish paste)
- Minced fish meat, cooked or preserved
- Fish balls and fish cakes
- Prepared fish sausages
- Homogenized fish preparations
- Also under 1604.20
Gorton's Fish Sticks, Trident Seafoods Surimi, Thai Union Fish Balls, Iglo Fish Fingers, Mrs. Paul's Fish Fillets (minced), SeaPak Fish Bites
Codes often confused with 1604.20
Common mistake. The primary confusion occurs with HS code 0304.99, which covers "other" fish meat (whether or not minced), frozen. The difference is the level of preparation. If the minced fish is raw and merely frozen without further processing or additives, it stays in Chapter 3. However, if it has been prepared (e.g., cooked, seasoned, or mixed with binders like flour), it moves to 1604.20. Additionally, 1604.19 is sometimes used, but that code is for fish that is "whole or in pieces," whereas 1604.20 specifically captures the minced, homogenized, or finely divided form of fish preparations.
Top exporters and importers of HS 160420 (the code used for minced fish), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 160420 (the code used for minced fish) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 9.8% 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 160420, not only minced fish.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $527M 17% of world exports
- 2 Thailand $312M 10% of world exports
- 3 Morocco $297M 9.6% of world exports
World total: $3.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $264M 9.8% of world imports
- 2 France $144M 5.4% of world imports
- 3 Italy $132M 4.9% of world imports
World total: $2.7B 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 minced fish
Brazil splits HS 1604.20 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 1604.20.10Tuna preparations, minced or other forms
- 1604.20.20Skipjack preparations, minced or other forms
- 1604.20.30Minced or other sardine or anchoveta preparations
- 1604.20.90Other fish preparations, minced or other forms
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about minced fish
What is the HS code for Minced fish?
The HS code for Minced fish is 160420 (Fish preparations; fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved). The HS code for prepared or preserved minced fish is 1604.20.
How do I classify Minced fish for customs?
Minced fish is classified under HS code 160420 — Fish preparations; fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is frozen raw minced fish under this code?
No, raw minced fish that is only frozen and contains no other ingredients is typically classified under heading 0304.
Which countries are the top exporters of minced fish (HS 160420)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 160420 (the code used for minced fish) in UN Comtrade data were China ($527M, 17% of world exports), Thailand ($312M) and Morocco ($297M). World exports came to about $3.1B, 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 minced fish (HS 160420)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 160420 (the code used for minced fish) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($264M, 9.8% of world imports), France ($144M) and Italy ($132M). World imports came to about $2.7B, 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 Minced fish the same in all countries?
The base HS code 160420 for Minced fish 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 minced fish in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 160420 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for minced fish depends on the product's details: 1604.20.10 (Tuna preparations, minced or other forms), 1604.20.20 (Skipjack preparations, minced or other forms), 1604.20.30 (Minced or other sardine or anchoveta preparations), 1604.20.90 (Other fish preparations, minced or other forms).