Product classification
HS code for Smoked beef: 0210.20
Meat, salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals.
Classification of smoked beef under HS 0210.20
Smoked beef is classified under HS code 0210.20. This code is designated for meat of bovine animals that has been salted, in brine, dried, or smoked. In the Harmonized System, Chapter 2 covers meat and edible meat offal, and heading 0210 is reserved for meat that has undergone preservation treatments beyond simple chilling or freezing. Smoked beef, such as certain types of smoked brisket or traditional smoked dried beef, falls under this heading because the smoking process acts as a preservative. The classification is determined by the species of the animal (bovine) and the state of the meat (smoked). It is essential that the meat remains in a state where it is preserved but not necessarily prepared in a culinary sense that would involve additional ingredients or cooking methods characteristic of Chapter 16. This code ensures that smoked bovine products are distinguished from fresh beef (0201) and frozen beef (0202).
- Covers
- Smoked beef brisket (cured)
- Smoked dried beef
- Smoked bovine primal cuts
- Salted and smoked beef strips
- Traditional smoked beef jerky (minimally processed)
- Also under 0210.20
- Libby's Corned Beef
- Jack Link's Beef Jerky
- Boar's Head Pastrami
- Stryve Biltong
- Cecina de León
- Vienna Beef Corned Beef
Codes often confused with 0210.20
Common mistake. Smoked beef is often misclassified under 1602.50, which covers other prepared or preserved meat of bovine animals. If the beef is fully cooked, seasoned with complex spices, or canned, it belongs in 1602.50. Another common mistake is using 0201 or 0202, which are only for fresh or frozen beef that has not been subjected to a smoking or curing process.
Top exporters and importers of HS 021020 (the code used for smoked beef), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 021020 (the code used for smoked beef) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was France, with 31% 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 021020, not only smoked beef.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $117M 34% of world exports
- 2 Switzerland $60M 17% of world exports
- 3 Brazil $19M 5.5% of world exports
World total: $343M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 France $94M 31% of world imports
- 2 Germany $35M 12% of world imports
- 3 Spain $26M 8.7% of world imports
World total: $302M 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 smoked beef
Brazil classifies smoked beef under NCM 0210.20.00: HS 0210.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about smoked beef
What is the HS code for Smoked beef?
The HS code for Smoked beef is 021020 (Meat; salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals). The HS code for smoked beef is 0210.20, which covers meat of bovine animals that is salted, dried, or smoked.
How do I classify Smoked beef for customs?
Smoked beef is classified under HS code 021020 — Meat; salted, in brine, dried or smoked, of bovine animals. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is beef jerky always 0210.20?
Not necessarily. If the jerky is highly processed with many additives or fully cooked, it is often classified under 1602.50 instead of 0210.20.
Which countries are the top exporters of smoked beef (HS 021020)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 021020 (the code used for smoked beef) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($117M, 34% of world exports), Switzerland ($60M) and Brazil ($19M). World exports came to about $343M, 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 smoked beef (HS 021020)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 021020 (the code used for smoked beef) in UN Comtrade data were France ($94M, 31% of world imports), Germany ($35M) and Spain ($26M). World imports came to about $302M, 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 Smoked beef the same in all countries?
The base HS code 021020 for Smoked beef 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 smoked beef in Brazil?
In Brazil, smoked beef (HS 021020) is classified under NCM 0210.20.00.