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HSChapter 16
U.S. imports of fish, prepared or preserved (nesoi) — minced, paste, and other forms (HS 160420) totaled $20.0M in April 2026, traded with 44 countries.
Importers of Fish, Prepared or Preserved (NESOI) — Minced, Paste, and Other Forms paid $2.4M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 12% on $19.9M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 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.
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.
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Monthly import values over time
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1604202500 | FISH BALLS, CAKES, PUDDINGS NO OIL NOV 6.8KG NESOI | $5.3M | 10.00% | $531K |
| 1604202000 | FISH BALLS/CAKES ETC NO OIL AIRTIGHT CNTR NOV6.8KG | $4.2M | 10.00% | $420K |
| 1604206090 | FISH PREPARED OR PRESERVED, NESOI | $4.1M | 15.29% | $615K |
| 1604206010 | FISH PREPARD OR PRESERVD, NESOI, PRE-COOKED & FRZN | $2.5M | 11.83% | $294K |
| 1604200510 | PREPARED MEALS CONTAINING CRUSTACEAN/MOLLUSCS/ETC | $1.6M | 15.00% | $241K |
| 1604201000 | FISH PASTES | $839K | 10.45% | $88K |
| 1604203000 | FISH BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS, NESOI | $662K | 10.12% | $67K |
| 1604201500 | FISH BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS, IN OIL | $366K | 10.00% | $37K |
| 1604200590 | PRODUCTS CONTNG MEAT OF CRUSTACEANS/MOLLUSCS ETC | $209K | 15.00% | $31K |
| 1604205010 | FISH STICKS/MINCED FISH PROD BREADED PRECOOKD FRZN | $144K | 17.50% | $25K |
| 1604204000 | FISH STICKS ETC MINCED FISH BREADED/ETC NT CKD/OIL | $23K | 20.00% | $5K |
| 1604205090 | FISH STICKS/MINCED FISH PRODUCT BREADED ETC NESOI | $13K | 17.50% | $2K |
FISH BALLS, CAKES, PUDDINGS NO OIL NOV 6.8KG NESOI
FISH BALLS/CAKES ETC NO OIL AIRTIGHT CNTR NOV6.8KG
FISH PREPARED OR PRESERVED, NESOI
FISH PREPARD OR PRESERVD, NESOI, PRE-COOKED & FRZN
PREPARED MEALS CONTAINING CRUSTACEAN/MOLLUSCS/ETC
FISH PASTES
FISH BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS, NESOI
FISH BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS, IN OIL
PRODUCTS CONTNG MEAT OF CRUSTACEANS/MOLLUSCS ETC
FISH STICKS/MINCED FISH PROD BREADED PRECOOKD FRZN
FISH STICKS ETC MINCED FISH BREADED/ETC NT CKD/OIL
FISH STICKS/MINCED FISH PRODUCT BREADED ETC NESOI
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1604206000 | FISH, PREPARED OR PRESERVED, NESOI | $4.6M |
| 1604200500 | PRODUCTS, MEAT CRUSTACEAN/MOLLUSCS ETC, PREP MEALS | $1.1M |
| 1604204500 | FISH STICKS ETC OF MINCED FISH, BREADED/COATED ETC | $381K |
| 1604201300 | FISH PASTES; BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS | $214K |
FISH, PREPARED OR PRESERVED, NESOI
770.0K kg
PRODUCTS, MEAT CRUSTACEAN/MOLLUSCS ETC, PREP MEALS
267.4K kg
FISH STICKS ETC OF MINCED FISH, BREADED/COATED ETC
110.7K kg
FISH PASTES; BALLS, CAKES AND PUDDINGS
57.6K kg
SALMON, PREPARED OR PRESERVED, WHOLE OR PIECES
HS 160411
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $8.1M | $1.4M | -$6.6M |
| New Jersey | $4.2M | $1.2M | -$3.0M |
| Washington | $308K | $1.7M | +$1.4M |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $6.8M | $23K | -$6.8M |
| NEWARK, NJ | $5.5M | $432K | -$5.1M |
| BLAINE, WA | $65K | $1.4M | +$1.3M |