Product classification
HS code for Smoked sea cucumber: 0308.19
Aquatic invertebrates, sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus, Holothuroidea), dried, salted or in brine, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process.
Classification of smoked sea cucumber under HS 0308.19
Smoked sea cucumbers are classified under HS code 0308.19. Heading 0308 covers aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, including sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and jellyfish. Subheading 0308.19 is the specific code for sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus, Holothuroidea) that are not live, fresh, chilled, or frozen. This category includes sea cucumbers that have been dried, salted, in brine, or smoked. In many cultures, sea cucumbers are highly valued and are often traded in a dried and smoked form known as bêche-de-mer. The classification under 0308.19 is essential for the monitoring of trade in these species, many of which are protected under international environmental treaties like CITES. If the sea cucumber is further processed into a prepared food product, such as being canned in a seasoned broth, it would be classified under Heading 1605. For the primary smoked product, 0308.19 remains the standard code for customs and trade statistics. This ensures that the specific species and their state of preservation are accurately recorded for regulatory purposes.
- Covers
- Smoked Stichopus japonicus
- Smoked Holothuroidea
- Dried and smoked sea cucumber (Bêche-de-mer)
- Salted and smoked sea cucumber
- Smoked sea cucumber skins
- Also under 0308.19
- Dried Japanese Sea Cucumber
- Australian Beche-de-Mer
- Salted Caribbean Sea Cucumber
- Smoked Pacific Sea Cucumber.
Codes often confused with 0308.19
Common mistake. Smoked sea cucumbers are frequently misclassified under HS code 0308.11, which is reserved for live, fresh, or chilled specimens. Another common error is using HS code 1605.61, which is for prepared or preserved sea cucumbers. If the product has only been smoked or dried, it must remain in Chapter 3 under 0308.19.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030819 (the code used for smoked sea cucumber), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030819 (the code used for smoked sea cucumber) in UN Comtrade data was Hong Kong, with 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Hong Kong, with 60% 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 030819, not only smoked sea cucumber.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Hong Kong $46M 31% of world exports
- 2 Australia $15M 10% of world exports
- 3 Nicaragua* ~$15M 9.9% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $150M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Hong Kong $112M 60% of world imports
- 2 Macao $44M 24% of world imports
- 3 Malaysia $10M 5.5% of world imports
World total: $187M 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 sea cucumber
Brazil classifies smoked sea cucumber under NCM 0308.19.00: HS 0308.19 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about smoked sea cucumber
What is the HS code for Smoked sea cucumber?
The HS code for Smoked sea cucumber is 030819 (Aquatic invertebrates; sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus, Holothuroidea), dried, salted or in brine, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process). The HS code for smoked sea cucumber is 0308.19, which also includes dried, salted, or brined sea cucumbers.
How do I classify Smoked sea cucumber for customs?
Smoked sea cucumber is classified under HS code 030819 — Aquatic invertebrates; sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus, Holothuroidea), dried, salted or in brine, smoked, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is Bêche-de-mer classified under this code?
Yes, Bêche-de-mer, which is typically sea cucumber that has been gutted, boiled, dried, and often smoked, is classified under HS code 0308.19.
Which countries are the top exporters of smoked sea cucumber (HS 030819)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030819 (the code used for smoked sea cucumber) in UN Comtrade data were Hong Kong ($46M, 31% of world exports), Australia ($15M) and Nicaragua (about $15M). World exports came to about $150M, 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 sea cucumber (HS 030819)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030819 (the code used for smoked sea cucumber) in UN Comtrade data were Hong Kong ($112M, 60% of world imports), Macao ($44M) and Malaysia ($10M). World imports came to about $187M, 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 sea cucumber the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030819 for Smoked sea cucumber 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 sea cucumber in Brazil?
In Brazil, smoked sea cucumber (HS 030819) is classified under NCM 0308.19.00.