Product classification
HS code for Salted catfish fillets: 0305.31
Fish fillets, dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads.
Classification of salted catfish fillets under HS 0305.31
Salted catfish fillets are classified under HS code 0305.31. This code is located within Chapter 3, which covers fish and aquatic invertebrates. Heading 0305 is dedicated to fish that has been dried, salted, or in brine, and smoked fish. Subheading 0305.31 specifically addresses fish fillets that are dried, salted, or in brine, but not smoked, for specific species including tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads. A fillet is defined as a strip of meat cut parallel to the backbone of the fish. The classification is determined by both the species of the fish and the physical presentation (fillet) combined with the preservation state (salted/dried). This code is vital for customs as fillets often carry different duty rates compared to whole fish or fish pieces with bones.
- Covers
- Salted catfish fillets (Pangasius spp.)
- Dried catfish fillets
- Brined catfish strips (boneless)
- Salt-cured Ictalurus fillets
- Dehydrated catfish fillets
- Also under 0305.31
- Dried salted tilapia from Africa
- Vietnamese dried catfish fillets
- traditional European salted carp
- dried eel snacks in Asia
- cured Nile perch fillets.
Codes often confused with 0305.31
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for salted catfish fillets is HS code 0304.62, which covers fresh, chilled, or frozen catfish fillets. The distinction is the preservation method; 0304 is for fresh/frozen, while 0305 is for salted/dried. Another error is using HS code 0305.64, which is for salted catfish that are NOT fillets (i.e., whole or pieces with bone). If the fillets are smoked, they must be classified under 0305.49, as 0305.31 explicitly excludes smoked products. Furthermore, if the fillets are breaded or battered, they move to Chapter 16, specifically 1604.19.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030531 (the code used for salted catfish fillets), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030531 (the code used for salted catfish fillets) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 59% 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 030531, not only salted catfish fillets.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $548K 19% of world exports
- 2 United States $491K 17% of world exports
- 3 South Africa $436K 15% of world exports
World total: $2.9M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $4.5M 59% of world imports
- 2 Italy $855K 11% of world imports
- 3 Uganda $348K 4.5% of world imports
World total: $7.7M 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 code for salted catfish fillets
Brazil classifies salted catfish fillets under NCM 0305.31.00: HS 0305.31 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about salted catfish fillets
What is the HS code for Salted catfish fillets?
The HS code for Salted catfish fillets is 030531 (Fish fillets; dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads). The HS code for catfish fillets that are dried, salted, or in brine, but not smoked, is 0305.31.
How do I classify Salted catfish fillets for customs?
Salted catfish fillets is classified under HS code 030531 — Fish fillets; dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between 0305.31 and 0305.64?
HS code 0305.31 is specifically for fillets (boneless strips), whereas 0305.64 is for whole fish or pieces of fish that still contain the bone, provided they are salted or in brine.
Which countries are the top exporters of salted catfish fillets (HS 030531)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030531 (the code used for salted catfish fillets) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($548K, 19% of world exports), the United States ($491K) and South Africa ($436K). World exports came to about $2.9M, 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 salted catfish fillets (HS 030531)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030531 (the code used for salted catfish fillets) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($4.5M, 59% of world imports), Italy ($855K) and Uganda ($348K). World imports came to about $7.7M, 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 Salted catfish fillets the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030531 for Salted catfish fillets 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 salted catfish fillets in Brazil?
In Brazil, salted catfish fillets (HS 030531) is classified under NCM 0305.31.00.