U.S. imports of Fish, Prepared or Preserved (NESOI) — Minced, Paste, and Other Forms (HS 160420) totaled $20.4M in August 2026, imported from 44 countries.
Importers of Fish, Prepared or Preserved (NESOI) — Minced, Paste, and Other Forms paid $2.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 12.00% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataCovering minced fish products, fish pastes, fish balls, cakes and puddings, and other preparations not classifiable as whole or piece-form fish, this heading captures a wide range of value-added seafood formats prominent in Asian and global foodservice supply chains. Thailand leads US imports, with India, Japan, South Korea, and China also significant — a supplier profile reflecting the concentration of surimi, fish paste, and processed seafood manufacturing in Southeast and East Asia. The schedule draws important distinctions between fish pastes (1604201000 and 1604201300), fish balls and cakes by oil content and container size (1604201500 through 1604203000), breaded minced-fish sticks (1604204000 through 1604205090), and pre-cooked frozen preparations (1604206010), each carrying potentially different duty treatment. FDA seafood HACCP requirements and accurate ingredient declarations are essential for all entries; consult a licensed customs broker given the heading's complexity and the range of product forms involved.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
645 import shipments a month
Surimi (minced, washed, and stabilized fish paste used as a raw material) is generally classified under Chapter 3 as a frozen fish preparation rather than under Chapter 16, because Chapter 16 covers preparations that have undergone more extensive processing. However, surimi-based finished products such as imitation crab sticks that are fully prepared or preserved would typically fall under Chapter 16. The exact classification depends on the degree of processing; importers should obtain a binding ruling from CBP if the product's status is ambiguous.
Line 1604201500 covers fish balls, cakes, and puddings packed in oil regardless of container type, while 1604202000 applies to those not packed in oil, in airtight containers of 6.8 kg or less. The oil-content determination must be made at the time of importation based on the product's actual formulation, not its labeling; a product described as 'in broth' or 'in sauce' is generally considered not in oil. Container weight per unit is also a classification factor, so net weight per container must be clearly stated on the commercial invoice.
Subheading 3 of 12 in heading 1604
Subheading 160420 · $20.4M of $209.3M
ImportsExports
Imports
$20.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$6.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $226.7M of Fish, Prepared or Preserved (NESOI) — Minced, Paste, and Other Forms and exported $75.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1604202500 | Fish Balls, Cakes, Puddings No Oil Nov 6.8kg NESOI | $6.2M | 10.38% | 100.00% | $642K |
| 1604202000 | Fish Balls/Cakes Etc No Oil Airtight Cntr Nov6.8kg | $4.9M | 11.08% | 96.16% | $540K |
| 1604206090 | Fish Prepared or Preserved, NESOI | $3.6M | 13.38% | 90.18% | $483K |
| 1604206010 | Fish Prepard or Preservd, NESOI, Pre-Cooked & Frzn | $2.4M | 13.05% | 96.61% | $313K |
| 1604201000 | Fish Pastes | $903K | 14.33% | 95.88% | $129K |
| 1604200510 | Prepared Meals Containing Crustacean/Molluscs/Etc | $884K | 10.93% | 88.30% | $97K |
| 1604203000 | Fish Balls, Cakes and Puddings, NESOI | $767K | 11.80% | 100.00% | $90K |
| 1604200590 | Products Contng Meat of Crustaceans/Molluscs Etc | $408K | 25.67% | 100.00% | $105K |
| 1604201500 | Fish Balls, Cakes and Puddings, In Oil | $256K | 11.88% | 100.00% | $30K |
| 1604205010 | Fish Sticks/Minced Fish Prod Breaded Precookd Frzn | $115K | 17.47% | 100.00% | $20K |
| 1604204000 | Fish Sticks Etc Minced Fish Breaded/Etc Nt Ckd/Oil | $36K | 10.81% | 86.49% | $4K |
| 1604205090 | Fish Sticks/Minced Fish Product Breaded Etc NESOI | $10K | 10.00% | 100.00% | $1K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
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Imports · August 2026
origin
India and Thailand together supply 59% of it. China pays 38.4% duty; India 9.8%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
3.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 12.00% of imports for consumption.