Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects; food preparations based on these products (heading 1601): importing markets
HS heading 1601 covers sausages and similar products of meat, offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based on them. In 2025, Germany (about USD…
Published on 12 November 2026Updated on 12 November 2026
HS heading 1601 covers sausages and similar products of meat, offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based on them. In 2025, Germany (about USD 1.10 billion) and the United Kingdom (about USD 1.03 billion) led declared imports, followed by France. For a company exporting from Spain, the key checks are the subheading, the tariff and the animal health requirements.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 12 November 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 1601
- Chapter
- 16 · Meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or insects; preparations thereof
- Subheadings
- 1
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 1,097,822,872 |
| United Kingdom | 1,034,426,285 |
| France | 573,946,835 |
| Netherlands | 387,274,003 |
| Belgium | 379,642,291 |
| Mexico | 326,210,239 |
| Canada | 300,547,531 |
| United States | 189,079,194 |
| Hungary | 181,007,997 |
| Denmark | 175,740,103 |
| Spain | 174,924,700 |
| Slovakia | 171,642,070 |
| Romania | 157,833,268 |
| Japan | 141,488,761 |
| Kazakhstan | 136,384,488 |
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 12 November 2026
What to know before exporting heading 1601
Heading 1601 is part of Chapter 16, which groups preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans and molluscs. It covers sausages and similar products, and food preparations based on them. Cured sausages, cooked sausages and blood-based products fall here, but the exact classification of each product is set at subheading level.
Demand is concentrated in Europe. In 2025, Germany, the United Kingdom and France were the three largest declared importers in the table above. Germany and the United Kingdom are each above USD 1 billion, so they are the reference markets for sizing any export plan for this heading.
The table shows what each country imports from the world, not what it buys from Spain. It measures the size of the market, not your share of it. To judge your real opportunity, compare these figures with Spanish exports to each country in the same period, using UN Comtrade or ITC Trade Map.
For a company exporting from Spain, the tariff depends on the destination, the full subheading and the agreement in force. Among the markets listed, the EU members (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and others) form part of the single market, so exports from Spain are intra-EU shipments. For non-EU destinations such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, the United States, Japan or Kazakhstan, the duty and the conditions are checked by destination in Access2Markets.
Meat products are subject to sanitary rules. Whether a destination accepts your product depends on its animal health requirements, on the origin of the meat and on the establishment being authorised to export. Ask the importer and the competent authority of the destination for the current conditions before quoting, as they vary by country and product.
A practical order of work: confirm the eight- or ten-digit code of your product, choose two or three destinations from the table, check duty and sanitary conditions for each in Access2Markets, and only then compare prices with local producers.
Frequently asked questions about exporting sausages (HS 1601)
What products are classified under HS 1601?
Heading 1601 covers sausages and similar products of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based on these products. The precise subheading of a specific product depends on its composition and processing, and it is confirmed in the Combined Nomenclature through TARIC.
Which countries import the most under HS 1601?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest declared importers were Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Germany and the United Kingdom each exceeded USD 1 billion. Countries report with a delay, so the latest consolidated year can change as new data is added.
Does the import table show how much Spain exports to each country?
No. The table shows what each country declares importing from the whole world. Spanish sales to each market are obtained by filtering UN Comtrade or ITC Trade Map by reporter Spain and by partner country.
Where do I check the tariff for exporting sausages from Spain?
In Access2Markets, selecting the product code, Spain as the origin and the destination country. The duty depends on the subheading and on the trade agreement in force with that destination. Shipments to other EU countries do not pay customs duty.
Are there special requirements for exporting meat products?
Yes, in general. Destinations set animal health and certification conditions for meat products, and these vary by country and by the origin of the raw material. They are confirmed with the importer and with the destination's competent authority before the first shipment.
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