Heading · Section IV

1604: Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs

1604
  • 4%–25%UK
  • 5.5%–25%EU
  • 91%Türkiye
  • 0%–35%USA
  • US$20.6bnWorld trade in 2024

12 subheadings make up heading 1604 in chapter 16 (preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic…).

In the UK Global Tariff, heading 1604 covers 107 tariff lines and the duty is between 4% and 25%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 1604 into 42 tariff lines; the duty is between 5.5% and 25% (average 19.3%).

In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 1604 covers 45 tariff lines and the statutory rate is 91%.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 1604 into 48 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 35% (average 5.2%). 17 of them are duty-free. 1 line has a specific or compound duty.

World trade in heading 1604 goods reached US$20.6bn in 2024, up 3.7% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 16.9% of the total, ahead of Thailand.

The United States imported the most (US$2.2bn).

The United Kingdom ranked 35th among 173 exporters with US$87.2m.

The United Kingdom imported US$1bn.

Duty rates compared

UK 4% – 25% Third-country duty 107 tariff lines · average 17.6% EU 5.5% – 25% Third-country duty 42 tariff lines · average 19.3% Türkiye 91% Statutory rate (Law 474) 45 tariff lines USA Free – 35% General (MFN) 48 tariff lines · average 5.2% · 1× specific or compound duty

The Turkish schedule prints the statutory rate set under Customs Law 474. The rate applied at import is laid down in the Import Regime Decision and can be lower, or different by country of origin.

Subheadings 12

World trade in 2024

1604 · US$20.6bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$3.7mUS$3.7m+US$65.4m+US$288m+> US$913.1m

Exports: 173
  1. China: US$3.5bn
  2. Thailand: US$3.2bn
  3. Ecuador: US$1.6bn
  4. Spain: US$1.2bn
  5. Morocco: US$913.1m
  6. Poland: US$889.5m
  7. Germany: US$804.5m
  8. Vietnam: US$796.8m
  9. Indonesia: US$545.7m
  10. Italy: US$432.3m
  11. Philippines: US$401.1m
  12. Netherlands: US$384.9m
  13. Portugal: US$366.5m
  14. Denmark: US$345.2m
  15. Lithuania: US$311.3m
  16. Mauritius: US$299m
  17. United States: US$288m
  18. France: US$272.8m
  19. Papua New Guinea: US$256.5m
  20. Seychelles: US$237.2m
  21. Japan: US$187.8m
  22. Latvia: US$178.9m
  23. Malaysia: US$169.3m
  24. Canada: US$157.8m
  25. Peru: US$154.9m
  26. Ghana: US$144.8m
  27. South Korea: US$136.2m
  28. Belgium: US$109.9m
  29. India: US$107.4m
  30. Sweden: US$102.6m
  31. Türkiye: US$100.8m
  32. El Salvador: US$99m
  33. Colombia: US$97.5m
  34. Solomon Islands: US$88.2m
  35. United Kingdom: US$87.2m
  36. Norway: US$87.1m
  37. Chile: US$85.9m
  38. Senegal: US$85.3m
  39. Mexico: US$80m
  40. Côte d’Ivoire: US$70.5m
  41. Russia: US$65.4m
  42. Iceland: US$63.3m
  43. Costa Rica: US$61.3m
  44. Cape Verde: US$58.5m
  45. Taiwan: US$57.8m
  46. Croatia: US$56.7m
  47. Madagascar: US$55.6m
  48. Fiji: US$55.2m
  49. Tunisia: US$54.6m
  50. Guatemala: US$50.6m
  51. Czechia: US$46m
  52. South Africa: US$44.1m
  53. Estonia: US$42.3m
  54. Albania: US$39.8m
  55. Maldives: US$39.7m
  56. Singapore: US$37.6m
  57. Brazil: US$32.7m
  58. Slovenia: US$27.9m
  59. Ireland: US$25.2m
  60. Austria: US$24.4m

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$3.5bn 16.9%
2 Thailand US$3.2bn 15.7%
3 Ecuador US$1.6bn 7.6%
4 Spain US$1.2bn 5.9%
5 Morocco US$913.1m 4.4%
6 Poland US$889.5m 4.3%
7 Germany US$804.5m 3.9%
8 Vietnam US$796.8m 3.9%
9 Indonesia US$545.7m 2.7%
10 Italy US$432.3m 2.1%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$2.2bn 10.9%
2 Japan US$1.7bn 8%
3 Italy US$1.4bn 7%
4 Spain US$1.3bn 6.3%
5 Germany US$1.2bn 5.7%
6 France US$1.2bn 5.7%
7 United Kingdom US$1bn 4.9%
8 Netherlands US$612.7m 3%
9 Australia US$504.7m 2.5%
10 Mexico US$464.1m 2.3%

Legal notes

Subheading notes

1. For the purposes of subheading 160210, the expression ‘homogenised preparations’ means preparations of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, finely homogenised, put up for retail sale as food suitable for infants or young children or for dietetic purposes, in containers of a net weight content not exceeding 250 g. For the application of this definition, no account is to be taken of small quantities of any ingredients which may have been added to the preparation for seasoning, preservation or other purposes. These preparations may contain a small quantity of visible pieces of meat, meat offal or insects. This subheading takes precedence over all other subheadings of heading 1602.

2. The fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates specified in the subheadings of heading 1604 or 1605 under their common names only, are of the same species as those mentioned in Chapter 3 under the same name.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs?

Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs fall under HS heading 1604, part of chapter 16, in section IV of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on prepared or preserved fish in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 1604 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4% to 25%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on prepared or preserved fish in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 1604 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5.5% to 25%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most prepared or preserved fish?

China, with US$3.5bn in 2024 (16.9% of world exports).