U.S. imports of live, fresh, or chilled sea urchins (HS 030821) totaled $3.6M in August 2026, imported from 8 countries.
Importers of Live, Fresh, or Chilled Sea Urchins paid $353K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 9.80% of the $3.6M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule. Live, Fresh, or Chilled Sea Urchins imports of $3.6M in August 2026 ran 15% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSea urchin roe — marketed as uni in Japanese cuisine — is one of the most price-sensitive and perishable luxury seafood commodities in US trade, and the schedule separates it from whole live or fresh sea urchins at the 10-digit level: 0308210021 covers fresh or chilled roe specifically, while 0308210029 covers live, fresh, or chilled sea urchins excluding roe. Japan is the leading supplier, reflecting both domestic Japanese harvest and re-export of processed uni, with Mexico and Canada also significant sources given their Pacific coast fisheries. Because of the extreme cold-chain sensitivity and short shelf life, transit time and port-of-entry inspection logistics are critical operational considerations for importers. FDA admissibility review applies to all forms intended for human consumption; consult a licensed customs broker or FDA-registered importer of record to confirm entry requirements.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
600 shipments/mo
The US schedule draws a clear line at the 10-digit level: fresh or chilled roe (uni) is classified under 0308210021, while live, fresh, or chilled whole sea urchins — or parts other than roe — fall under 0308210029. Importers must identify at entry whether the shipment consists of extracted roe or intact animals, as misclassification can affect duty treatment and FDA labeling requirements.
Because fresh roe is highly perishable, importers generally need to demonstrate continuous refrigeration from harvest through port of entry. FDA may request HACCP records, time-temperature logs, and country-of-origin documentation. Shipments from Japan and Mexico typically include harvest certificates and processing facility registration numbers tied to FDA's seafood HACCP regulations.
HSChapter 03
Subheading 1 of 8 in heading 0308
Subheading 030821 · $3.6M of $4.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$59KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $39.8M of Live, Fresh, or Chilled Sea Urchins.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 030821 — Live, Fresh, or Chilled Sea Urchins, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0308210021 | Sea Urchin Roe, Fresh or Chilled | $2.6M | 9.25% | 70.23% | $242K |
| 0308210029 | Sea Urchin, Live, Fresh or Chilled (Except Roe) | $987K | 11.25% | 99.17% | $111K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0308210021 | Sea Urchin Roe, Fresh or Chilled | $59K |
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
Japan and Mexico together supply 97% of it. China pays 37.5% duty; Mexico 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
21.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 9.80% of total import value.