Molluscs; whether in shell or not, live… (heading 0307): importing markets
HS heading 0307 covers molluscs, in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, in brine or smoked. Spain, Italy and China lead imports in…
Published on 3 October 2026Updated on 3 October 2026
HS heading 0307 covers molluscs, in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, in brine or smoked. Spain, Italy and China lead imports in the latest UN Comtrade data, followed by South Korea and the United States. For a company exporting from Spain, demand is spread across Europe and Asia, and the rules depend on the subheading and the destination.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 3 October 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0307
- Chapter
- 03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
- Subheadings
- 31
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Spain | 2,846,924,500 |
| Italy | 1,773,245,295 |
| China | 1,766,029,153 |
| South Korea | 1,247,789,630 |
| United States | 1,184,474,425 |
| Japan | 1,078,127,209 |
| Thailand | 770,296,831 |
| France | 656,299,481 |
| Portugal | 437,350,317 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 386,660,283 |
| Malaysia | 282,201,039 |
| Greece | 236,288,357 |
| Canada | 213,146,293 |
| Netherlands | 207,036,624 |
| Belgium | 193,506,869 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 3 October 2026
What to know before exporting molluscs under heading 0307
Heading 0307 groups several very different products under one four-digit code. Oysters, scallops, mussels, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, clams and others sit in separate subheadings, and each can be live, frozen, dried, salted or smoked. The fact sheet lists 31 subheadings, so the first task is to classify your product at the full digit level.
The importing table shows a market with two clear blocks. Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Greece appear among the main importers, as do China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. For a company exporting from Spain, the European buyers sit inside the single market, while the Asian ones are third-country destinations with their own customs procedures.
The figures are imports declared by each country from the world, so they include trade between neighbours and re-exports. A large importer is not necessarily an open market for your product. Compare the figure with the subheading you sell before prioritising a country.
Tariffs depend on the subheading, the destination and any agreement in force between the EU and that country. For a company exporting from Spain, the applicable duty and the origin rules are checked in Access2Markets, entering the full code and the destination.
Health requirements are the second check. Live, fresh and frozen molluscs usually fall under sanitary and veterinary controls that vary by destination and by product state. The official source is the destination country's import authority, and in Spain the export certification procedure is handled through the competent health authorities. Confirm the requirement before quoting a price.
Live and fresh products add a logistics condition: transit time and cold chain determine which markets are viable by air or road. Frozen, dried and salted products give more freedom of route and shelf life. Choose the target markets with the product state in mind, not only with the size of imports.
Frequently asked questions
What does HS code 0307 cover?
Heading 0307 covers molluscs, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, and smoked molluscs, cooked or not before or during smoking. It belongs to chapter 03 and is divided into 31 subheadings by species and by state of preservation.
Which countries import the most molluscs under 0307?
In the latest UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest importers are Spain, Italy, China, South Korea and the United States, followed by Japan, Thailand and France. The figures are imports declared by each country from the world, in USD.
How do I find the tariff for exporting molluscs from Spain?
The duty depends on the full subheading and the destination, and on whether an EU trade agreement applies. It is checked in Access2Markets by entering the code and the destination country. Inside the EU single market there are no customs duties between member states.
Is the full 0307 code enough to declare my product?
No. Heading 0307 has 31 subheadings, and customs declarations require the full code that matches the species and the state of the product. Destination countries may add further digits. Confirm the classification with your customs agent or in the tariff database of the destination.
Does a high import volume mean an easy market?
Not necessarily. The volume shows demand, but it includes re-exports and trade between neighbouring countries. Access also depends on tariffs, sanitary requirements and competition in your specific product, so check each of them before choosing a market.
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