Crustaceans — HTS 1605
Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved
Chapter 16 › Heading 1605
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 1605 is a 4-digit product category for crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates that have been prepared or preserved. It can cover products such as prepared or preserved shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters, mussels, squid, and similar aquatic animals, depending on the product’s exact characteristics. The heading generally does not cover fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, or smoked products unless the applicable tariff provisions treat that form as prepared or preserved.
To reach a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s identity and condition: the species or type of aquatic animal, whether it is whole or in pieces, and how it was prepared or preserved. The lower-level provisions may distinguish products by material or type and sometimes by additional features such as containers, mixtures, or processing method. Read the complete wording of the relevant 8-digit provision and its notes; do not choose a code based only on a product’s marketing name.
What to check
- Identify the exact species or commercial type, and record whether the item is a crustacean, mollusc, or another aquatic invertebrate.
- Document the processing method, such as cooking, canning, pickling, saucing, or another preservation treatment, and confirm that heading 1605 applies rather than a heading for a different product condition.
- Check whether the product is whole, in pieces, minced, mixed with other ingredients, or packed in a particular form.
- Read the full 8-digit HTSUS descriptions, including section, chapter, and heading notes, and compare them with the ingredient list and product specifications.
- Confirm the classification against current official HTSUS material and obtain a customs-broker or binding-ruling review when the species, processing, or mixed ingredients create uncertainty.
HTS heading 1605 summary
Crustaceans is a 4-digit product category containing 0 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1605.10 | Crab |
| 1605.30 | Lobster |
| 1605.40 | Other crustaceans |
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 1605?
Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.