U.S. imports of Prepared or Preserved Herrings, Whole or in Pieces (HS 160412) totaled $4.5M in August 2026, imported from 20 countries.
Importers of Prepared or Preserved Herrings, Whole or in Pieces paid $246K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.44% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPreserved herring enters the US in a notably wide range of pack styles — in oil in airtight containers (1604122000), in tomato sauce or smoked/kippered in larger containers (1604124000), pickled fillets (1604126010), pickled non-fillet forms (1604126030), kipper snacks (1604126050), and other preparations (1604126090) — making correct classification dependent on both the preservation method and the container format. Canada is the dominant supplier, with Poland and Germany also significant sources, reflecting the North Atlantic and Baltic herring fisheries that feed European processing industries. Kipper snacks and pickled herring fillets are distinct retail formats with separate tariff lines, so pack-style documentation is essential at entry. FDA seafood HACCP requirements apply to all imported preserved herring products.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
221 import shipments a month
Yes. Kipper snacks are classified at 1604126050, while pickled herring fillets fall under 1604126010 and other pickled (non-fillet) herring under 1604126030. The distinction matters because each line may carry a different duty rate, so the specific product format must be accurately described on the commercial invoice.
Canada's proximity, established cold-chain infrastructure, and access to North Atlantic herring stocks give Canadian processors a logistics and cost advantage for the US market. European suppliers like Poland and Germany remain competitive for specialty formats such as pickled fillets and tomato-sauce packs, where processing expertise and established retail brand relationships offset the longer transit.
Subheading 7 of 12 in heading 1604
Subheading 160412 · $4.5M of $209.3M
ImportsExports
Imports
$4.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$77KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $51.4M of Prepared or Preserved Herrings, Whole or in Pieces and exported $1.2M.
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1604126050 | Herrings, Kipper Snacks | $1.7M | 3.07% | 30.69% | $53K |
| 1604126090 | Herrings NESOI, Prepared or Preserved | $1.1M | 6.61% | 65.84% | $75K |
| 1604122000 | Herrings, In Oil, In Airtight Containers | $1.0M | 10.85% | 100.00% | $111K |
| 1604126010 | Herrings Fillets, Pickled | $396K | 1.16% | 10.80% | $5K |
| 1604126030 | Herrings Except Fillets, Pickled | $234K | 0.31% | 3.07% | $720 |
| 1604124000 | Herrings in Tomato Sauce Smkd Kipprd Cntr Ov .45kg | $19K | 10.00% | 100.00% | $2K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1604120000 | Herrings Whole, Pieces, Nt Minced Prep or Pres | $77K |
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.
Trade Directory
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Germany together supply 63% of it. Germany pays 10.0% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
47.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 5.44% of imports for consumption.