Product classification

HS code for Prepared eels: 1604.17

Fish preparations, eels, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced).

Classification of prepared eels under HS 1604.17

HS Code 1604.17 is the specific classification for prepared or preserved eels, provided they are presented whole or in pieces but not minced. This code is frequently used for products like "Unagi" (Japanese grilled eel), which is often marinated in soy-based sauces and vacuum-packed. The preparation involves cooking or smoking, which excludes the product from Chapter 03 (fresh or frozen fish). For the product to remain in 1604.17, the physical structure of the eel must be maintained; if the eel is ground into a paste or used as a minor ingredient in a complex food preparation, it may be reclassified under 1604.20. The "prepared or preserved" status can include eels that are canned, jarred, or vacuum-sealed with various seasonings. This classification is important for regulatory compliance, particularly regarding CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), as many eel species are protected. Accurate classification under 1604.17 allows customs authorities to monitor the trade of these specific fish species effectively while ensuring the correct tariffs are applied to value-added seafood products. The processing methods covered here include boiling, frying, grilling, and smoking, as well as preservation in oil, vinegar, or other media.

Covers
  • Grilled eel (Unagi) in soy sauce
  • Smoked eel fillets
  • Canned eel in oil
  • Pickled eel pieces in vinegar
  • Fried eel pieces, vacuum-packed
  • Eel prepared in jelly (aspic)
Also under 1604.17

Kikkoman Unagi Kabayaki, F.W. Schlotterbeck & Co. Smoked Eel, H. van Wijnen Smoked Eel, Eel River Eel, Maruha Nichiro Unagi

Codes often confused with 1604.17

Common mistake. Eels are often misclassified under HS code 0304.99 or 0305.49. Code 0304 is for fresh or frozen fillets, while 0305 is for dried or smoked fish that hasn't been further prepared. Another common error is using 1604.19 (other prepared fish) instead of the specific 1604.17 code for eels. If the eel is minced or used in fish cakes, it must be classified under 1604.20 rather than 1604.17.

0304.99Fish meat, excluding fillets, whether or not minced; frozen, n.e.c. in item no. 0304.90305.49Fish; smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.4, includes fillets, but excludes edible fish offal03.04Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced); fresh, chilled or frozen03.05Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before, or during the smoking process1604.19Fish preparations; fish prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced), n.e.c. in heading no. 16041604.20Fish preparations; fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved

Top exporters and importers of HS 160417 (the code used for prepared eels), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 160417 (the code used for prepared eels) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 96% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 57% 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 160417, not only prepared eels.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $780M
  2. 2 Netherlands $12M
  3. 3 Germany $6.2M

World total: $810M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Japan $367M
  2. 2 Russia* ~$44M
  3. 3 Taiwan* ~$38M

World total: $645M 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 prepared eels

Brazil classifies prepared eels under NCM 1604.17.00: HS 1604.17 with 00 added.

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

Questions about prepared eels

What is the HS code for Prepared eels?

The HS code for Prepared eels is 160417 (Fish preparations; eels, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced)). The HS code for prepared or preserved eels, whole or in pieces, is 1604.17.

How do I classify Prepared eels for customs?

Prepared eels is classified under HS code 160417 — Fish preparations; eels, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include frozen raw eel?

No, frozen raw eel is classified in Chapter 03 (e.g., 0303.24). HS code 1604.17 only applies if the eel has been cooked, smoked, or otherwise prepared.

Which countries are the top exporters of prepared eels (HS 160417)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 160417 (the code used for prepared eels) in UN Comtrade data were China ($780M, 96% of world exports), the Netherlands ($12M) and Germany ($6.2M). World exports came to about $810M, 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 prepared eels (HS 160417)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 160417 (the code used for prepared eels) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($367M, 57% of world imports), Russia (about $44M) and Taiwan (about $38M). World imports came to about $645M, 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 Prepared eels the same in all countries?

The base HS code 160417 for Prepared eels 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 prepared eels in Brazil?

In Brazil, prepared eels (HS 160417) is classified under NCM 1604.17.00.