Flours, meals and pellets of fish… (heading 0309): importing markets
HS 0309 covers flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates fit for human consumption. It is a small trade:…
Published on 4 October 2026Updated on 4 October 2026
HS 0309 covers flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates fit for human consumption. It is a small trade: the 15 largest importers declared about USD 56 million in 2025. The Netherlands, Germany and South Korea lead, with roughly 46% of that total between them.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 4 October 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0309
- Chapter
- 03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
- Subheadings
- 2
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 9,108,509 |
| Germany | 8,795,222 |
| South Korea | 7,676,817 |
| Sweden | 5,656,868 |
| Nigeria | 5,212,787 |
| China | 4,542,399 |
| Japan | 3,972,953 |
| United Kingdom | 2,639,560 |
| Norway | 2,091,306 |
| Australia | 1,285,963 |
| United States | 1,250,680 |
| Malaysia | 1,221,684 |
| France | 1,033,937 |
| Denmark | 755,296 |
| Italy | 751,785 |
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 4 October 2026
What to know before exporting HS 0309 from Spain
Demand is concentrated in a few buyers. In 2025 the Netherlands (USD 9.1 million), Germany (USD 8.8 million) and South Korea (USD 7.7 million) account for about 46% of the imports declared by the 15 countries in the table. The figure is our own sum of those 15 rows, not a world total.
Most of the leading markets are in the EU. For a company exporting from Spain, shipments to the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France or Italy are intra-EU dispatches, not exports in the customs sense. No customs duties apply, but VAT and statistical reporting do.
Sales to South Korea, Nigeria, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, the United States or Malaysia are exports to third countries. The duty depends on the subheading, the destination and any agreement in force. For a company exporting from Spain, it is checked by entering the code and the country in Access2Markets, which also lists rules of origin and import requirements.
Classification comes first. Heading 0309 has two subheadings and applies only to products fit for human consumption. Fish meal intended for animal feed is normally classified elsewhere, in heading 2301. Check the exact code, including the national digits, in TARIC before quoting.
Read the ranking with its limits in mind. Countries report with a delay, so 2025 includes only the importers with consolidated data. The table shows what each country imports from the world, not what it buys from Spain.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 4 October 2026
Frequently asked questions about HS 0309
What does HS 0309 cover?
HS 0309 covers flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates that are fit for human consumption. It sits in chapter 03 and is divided into two subheadings.
Which countries import the most under HS 0309?
In 2025, according to UN Comtrade, the largest importers among reporting countries were the Netherlands (USD 9.1 million), Germany (USD 8.8 million) and South Korea (USD 7.7 million). Sweden and Nigeria follow, each above USD 5 million.
Is fish meal for animal feed classified under HS 0309?
Normally not. HS 0309 is limited to products fit for human consumption. Fish meal for animal feed is generally classified in heading 2301. The exact code for your product is confirmed in TARIC or with your customs agent.
Do I pay import duties when shipping HS 0309 from Spain to Germany or the Netherlands?
No customs duties apply, because both are EU member states and the shipment is intra-EU. VAT rules and statistical reporting still apply, and they depend on whether the buyer is a registered business.
Where do I find the tariff for HS 0309 in South Korea or Nigeria?
For a company exporting from Spain, the tariff is found in Access2Markets by entering the product code and the destination country. The result depends on the subheading and on whether an agreement with the EU is in force.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 4 October 2026
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