Product classification
HS code for Smoked eel: 0305.44
Fish, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads, includes fillets, but excludes edible fish offal.
Classification of smoked eel under HS 0305.44
Smoked eel is classified under HS code 0305.44. This classification is found in Chapter 3, which covers fish and aquatic invertebrates. Heading 0305 is reserved for fish that is dried, salted, or smoked. Subheading 0305.44 specifically lists eels (Anguilla spp.) along with tilapias and catfish. The classification is based on the smoking process, which is the primary method of preservation. This code includes eels that are smoked whole or as fillets, and it accounts for fish that may have been cooked during the smoking process. It is important to distinguish these from eels that are simply fresh or frozen, which fall under different headings. The specific mention of eels in 0305.44 makes this the definitive code for smoked eel products globally, ensuring consistency in trade documentation and tariff assessment.
- Covers
- Smoked whole eel
- Smoked eel fillets
- Hot-smoked eel pieces
- Cold-smoked eel
- Also under 0305.44
- Eel River Smoked Eel
- Catfish Charlie Smoked Catfish
- Aqua Star Smoked Tilapia
- Vietnamese Smoked Eel
- African Smoked Catfish
Codes often confused with 0305.44
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 0301.92, which is for live eels. While live eels are a common trade commodity, once they are smoked, they must be classified under 0305.44. Another common error is using 0304.86, which is for frozen fillets of eels. If those fillets are smoked, the smoking process dictates the classification under 0305.44 regardless of the frozen state. Additionally, prepared eel products like "unagi kabayaki" (grilled eel in soy sauce) are often misclassified here; however, because they are grilled with a sauce, they should be classified under 1604.17 as prepared or preserved fish.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030544 (the code used for smoked eel), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030544 (the code used for smoked eel) in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 19% 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 030544, not only smoked eel.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Netherlands $3.3M 29% of world exports
- 2 Thailand $2.5M 22% of world exports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$1.9M 16% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $11M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United Kingdom $2.1M 19% of world imports
- 2 France $1.8M 16% of world imports
- 3 Belgium $1.7M 15% of world imports
World total: $11M 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. 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 eel
Brazil classifies smoked eel under NCM 0305.44.00: HS 0305.44 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about smoked eel
What is the HS code for Smoked eel?
The HS code for Smoked eel is 030544 (Fish; smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads, includes fillets, but excludes edible fish offal). The HS code for smoked eel (Anguilla spp.) is 0305.44.
How do I classify Smoked eel for customs?
Smoked eel is classified under HS code 030544 — Fish; smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, tilapias, catfish, carp, eels, Nile perch, and snakeheads, includes fillets, but excludes edible fish offal. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is smoked eel fillet classified differently?
No, HS code 0305.44 specifically includes fillets of smoked eel, as well as whole smoked eels.
Which countries are the top exporters of smoked eel (HS 030544)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030544 (the code used for smoked eel) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($3.3M, 29% of world exports), Thailand ($2.5M) and Vietnam (about $1.9M). World exports came to about $11M, 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 eel (HS 030544)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030544 (the code used for smoked eel) in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($2.1M, 19% of world imports), France ($1.8M) and Belgium ($1.7M). World imports came to about $11M, 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 eel the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030544 for Smoked eel 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 eel in Brazil?
In Brazil, smoked eel (HS 030544) is classified under NCM 0305.44.00.