Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs (heading 1604): importing markets
HS heading 1604 covers prepared or preserved fish, whole or in pieces, plus caviar and caviar substitutes made from fish eggs. In 2025 the United States…
Published on 13 November 2026Updated on 13 November 2026
HS heading 1604 covers prepared or preserved fish, whole or in pieces, plus caviar and caviar substitutes made from fish eggs. In 2025 the United States was the largest importer by declared value, at about 2.27 billion USD, ahead of Japan and Italy. Spain, Germany and France also rank among the top six, so the EU is a large market for exporters from Spain.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 13 November 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 1604
- Chapter
- 16 · Meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or insects; preparations thereof
- Subheadings
- 13
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| United States | 2,266,728,259 |
| Japan | 1,696,215,404 |
| Italy | 1,557,434,457 |
| Spain | 1,478,449,785 |
| Germany | 1,442,538,101 |
| France | 1,371,018,600 |
| United Kingdom | 1,078,488,754 |
| Australia | 487,639,923 |
| Netherlands | 486,492,159 |
| Canada | 411,922,346 |
| Thailand | 380,644,419 |
| Portugal | 338,615,590 |
| Belgium | 294,571,717 |
| Poland | 252,761,003 |
| Saudi Arabia | 247,625,969 |
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 13 November 2026
What to know before exporting heading 1604
Heading 1604 sits in Chapter 16 of the Harmonized System and has 13 subheadings. The first step is to classify the product at subheading level, because the duty, the documents and the rules of origin are set for the subheading, not for the four-digit heading.
The top importers are spread across three areas. The United States and Canada are in North America, Japan, Thailand and Australia are in Asia-Pacific, and Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium and Poland are in the EU. The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia complete the list.
For a company exporting from Spain, shipments to other EU countries move within the single market and do not pay import duty. Exports to the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or Saudi Arabia are treated as exports to a third country, and the duty depends on the subheading and on the agreement in force with the EU. It is checked per destination and per subheading in Access2Markets.
Food products of animal origin face sanitary requirements that vary by destination. These typically cover establishment approval, health certification and labelling, and the importing country sets them. Before quoting a price, check the requirements of the destination authority and ask the buyer to confirm them in writing.
The import figures in the table are what each country declares as imported from the whole world. They show the size of each market, not how much of it is open to a supplier from Spain. Competition, local preferences and the share held by current suppliers need to be checked separately, for example by looking at the exporters to each market in ITC Trade Map or UN Comtrade.
Countries report with a delay, so the 2025 figures are the latest consolidated ones and may be revised. When comparing markets, use the same year for all of them and check that the subheading you export is the one being measured.
Frequently asked questions about heading 1604
What products are classified under HS 1604?
Heading 1604 covers prepared or preserved fish, whole or in pieces but not minced, and caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs. It is in Chapter 16 and has 13 subheadings. The exact subheading depends on the species and on how the product is prepared or preserved.
Which countries import the most under heading 1604?
In 2025, by value declared to UN Comtrade, the largest importers were the United States (about 2.27 billion USD), Japan (about 1.70 billion USD) and Italy (about 1.56 billion USD). Spain, Germany and France followed, each above 1.3 billion USD.
Do I pay import duty when exporting 1604 products from Spain to another EU country?
No. Trade between EU member states moves within the single market and does not pay import duty. Other requirements, such as health and labelling rules for food products, still apply. Duty only arises on exports to countries outside the EU.
Where do I check the duty for exporting 1604 from Spain to a non-EU country?
The duty depends on the destination, the subheading and the agreement in force between the EU and that country. It is consulted in Access2Markets by entering the product code and the destination. The result also shows the rules of origin needed to benefit from any preference.
Does a high import value mean an easy market to enter?
No. Import value measures the size of the market, not how open it is to a new supplier. Sanitary requirements, the share held by current suppliers and buyer preferences also matter, and they are checked market by market before committing to a destination.
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