Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Mussels, Prepared or Preserved (HS 160553) totaled $4.2M in August 2026, imported from 13 countries.
Importers of Mussels, Prepared or Preserved paid $495K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.65% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataChile is the leading US supplier of prepared and preserved mussels, driven by its large-scale green and blue mussel aquaculture industry in Patagonia, with Spain and Canada also significant sources. The US schedule separates mussel products containing fish meat or constituting prepared meals (1605530500) from other prepared mussels (1605536000), mirroring the structure used for other mollusks in Chapter 16. As bivalve mollusks, mussels are subject to FDA's NSSP framework, requiring that the harvest country maintain a current memorandum of understanding with FDA covering approved growing areas — a compliance step that is distinct from general food facility registration. Importers should verify harvest-area certification documentation, particularly for Chilean product, where growing-area approvals can vary by region.
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127 import shipments a month
Importers should obtain harvest-area certification documentation showing that the specific growing areas used are approved under Chile's competent authority and covered by Chile's NSSP memorandum of understanding with FDA. This typically includes a shellfish certificate or tag identifying the harvest location, the processor's registration number, and the harvest date — all of which FDA may review at the port of entry.
Products formulated as prepared meals — such as mussels in sauce with pasta or rice — or products that contain fish meat as a distinct ingredient alongside mussels are directed to line 1605530500. Plain prepared or preserved mussels, including those in brine, oil, or tomato sauce without fish meat, classify under 1605536000. The distinction can affect duty rates, so importers should obtain full ingredient declarations and processing descriptions from their suppliers.
Subheading 8 of 18 in heading 1605
Subheading 160553 · $4.2M of $310.9M
ImportsExports
Imports
$4.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$52KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $48.1M of Mussels, Prepared or Preserved and exported $561K.
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1605536000 | Mussels, Prepared or Preserved, NESOI | $3.5M | 11.58% | 94.86% | $403K |
| 1605530500 | Mussel Products With Fish Meat; Prep Meals | $772K | 11.96% | 100.00% | $92K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1605530000 | Mussels Prepared or Preserved | $52K |
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.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Chile and Latvia together supply 83% of it. Chile pays 12.3% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
4.2% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.65% of imports for consumption.