About HS Code 1518
HS Code 1518 is a comprehensive heading for animal, vegetable, or microbial fats, oils, and their fractions that have undergone significant chemical modifications beyond those covered in 1516, or are inedible mixtures or preparations. This heading specifically excludes products of heading 1516, meaning it captures a broader range of chemical alterations like boiling, oxidizing, dehydrating, or other forms of chemical modification that typically render the fats and oils suitable for industrial, non-food applications. It also serves as a residual category for inedible mixtures or preparations of fats, oils, or their fractions not specified elsewhere in Chapter 15. The 'inedible' criterion is crucial, distinguishing these products from edible preparations like margarine (1517). Examples include 'blown' oils used in paints, 'factice' (rubber substitutes), epoxidized oils for plasticizers, and various industrial greases. This heading is vital for trade compliance in sectors like chemicals, paints, lubricants, and rubber, where fats and oils are used as raw materials for non-food manufacturing. Classification requires a clear understanding of the extent and type of chemical modification and the ultimate intended (inedible) use. Its significance lies in capturing the diverse industrial applications of fats and oils, which have been chemically engineered for specific performance characteristics, reflecting the versatility of these natural resources beyond food consumption.
Products Under This Code
Boiled linseed oil, Oxidized castor oil, Dehydrated castor oil, Blown soybean oil, Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), Factice (vulcanized oil), Stand oil (polymerized linseed oil), Inedible mixtures of tallow and vegetable oils, Alkyd resin precursors (fatty acid modified), Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for industrial use (not for biodiesel of 3826), Inedible fish oil preparations, Greases based on animal fats (inedible), Lubricating preparations based on vegetable oils (inedible), Chemically modified tung oil, Polymerized safflower oil, Oiticica oil (chemically modified), Inedible mixed fatty acid esters, Vulcanized rapeseed oil, Chemically treated tall oil fatty acids, Inedible mixtures of palm oil and mineral oils, Polymerized sunflower oil, Fatty acid amides (inedible), Inedible mixtures of used cooking oils and industrial oils, Chemically modified lanolin, Inedible preparations of waxes and fats.
Real World Examples
A paint manufacturer in China imports bulk shipments of boiled linseed oil from Argentina, transported by ocean tankers, for use as a drying agent and binder in oil-based paints. In another scenario, a plastics company in the United States sources epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) from a chemical producer in Germany, shipped in ISO tank containers, to use as a plasticizer and stabilizer in PVC products. Furthermore, a rubber manufacturer in India imports factice (vulcanized oil) from the UK, via container freight, to incorporate into rubber compounds as a processing aid and softener, illustrating the diverse industrial applications of these chemically modified fats and oils.
Common Misclassification
Misclassification under HS 1518 often occurs when distinguishing between edible and inedible products, and between specific chemical modifications. Products that are edible, even if chemically modified for texture or shelf life (e.g., hydrogenated fats for food), typically belong to 1516 or 1517. Another common error is classifying specific industrial preparations, like certain lubricating preparations or polishing waxes, under 1518 when they might be more appropriately classified in Chapter 34, which covers soaps, organic surface-active agents, lubricating preparations, and waxes. The key for 1518 is that the modification is beyond 1516's scope or the mixture is explicitly 'inedible' and not specified elsewhere.
Subheadings 1
Industry
This code belongs to the Food & Beverages industry.
Trade Overview
Major importers of goods under 1518 are typically countries with large industrial sectors, including chemical manufacturing, paint and coatings, plastics, and lubricants. This includes nations like China, the USA, Germany, India, and Japan. Key exporters often include countries with significant agricultural output and chemical processing capabilities, such as Brazil (soybean oil derivatives), Malaysia and Indonesia (palm oil derivatives), and various European countries (specialty chemical derivatives). Trade agreements can impact the cost of these industrial raw materials, influencing the competitiveness of downstream manufacturing industries globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HS code 1518?
HS code 1518 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Animal, vegetable or microbial fats, oils and their fractions; boiled, oxidised, dehydrated or otherwise chemically modified, excluding those of heading no. 1516, inedible mixtures or preparations of fats, oils or their fractions, n.e.c. in chapter 15. HS Code 1518 is a comprehensive heading for animal, vegetable, or microbial fats, oils, and their fractions that have undergone significant chemical modifications beyond those covered in 1516, or are inedible mixtures or preparations. This heading specifically excludes products of heading 1516, meaning it captures a broader range of chemical alterations like boiling, oxidizing, dehydrating, or other forms of chemical modification that typically render the fats and oils suitable for industrial, non-food applications. It also serves as a residual category for inedible mixtures or preparations of fats, oils, or their fractions not specified elsewhere in Chapter 15. The 'inedible' criterion is crucial, distinguishing these products from edible preparations like margarine (1517). Examples include 'blown' oils used in paints, 'factice' (rubber substitutes), epoxidized oils for plasticizers, and various industrial greases. This heading is vital for trade compliance in sectors like chemicals, paints, lubricants, and rubber, where fats and oils are used as raw materials for non-food manufacturing. Classification requires a clear understanding of the extent and type of chemical modification and the ultimate intended (inedible) use. Its significance lies in capturing the diverse industrial applications of fats and oils, which have been chemically engineered for specific performance characteristics, reflecting the versatility of these natural resources beyond food consumption.
What products fall under HS code 1518?
Boiled linseed oil, Oxidized castor oil, Dehydrated castor oil, Blown soybean oil, Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), Factice (vulcanized oil), Stand oil (polymerized linseed oil), Inedible mixtures of tallow and vegetable oils, Alkyd resin precursors (fatty acid modified), Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for industrial use (not for biodiesel of 3826), Inedible fish oil preparations, Greases based on animal fats (inedible), Lubricating preparations based on vegetable oils (inedible), Chemically modified tung oil, Polymerized safflower oil, Oiticica oil (chemically modified), Inedible mixed fatty acid esters, Vulcanized rapeseed oil, Chemically treated tall oil fatty acids, Inedible mixtures of palm oil and mineral oils, Polymerized sunflower oil, Fatty acid amides (inedible), Inedible mixtures of used cooking oils and industrial oils, Chemically modified lanolin, Inedible preparations of waxes and fats.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 1518?
Misclassification under HS 1518 often occurs when distinguishing between edible and inedible products, and between specific chemical modifications. Products that are edible, even if chemically modified for texture or shelf life (e.g., hydrogenated fats for food), typically belong to 1516 or 1517. Another common error is classifying specific industrial preparations, like certain lubricating preparations or polishing waxes, under 1518 when they might be more appropriately classified in Chapter 34, which covers soaps, organic surface-active agents, lubricating preparations, and waxes. The key for 1518 is that the modification is beyond 1516's scope or the mixture is explicitly 'inedible' and not specified elsewhere.
Which countries trade the most under HS code 1518?
Major importers of goods under 1518 are typically countries with large industrial sectors, including chemical manufacturing, paint and coatings, plastics, and lubricants. This includes nations like China, the USA, Germany, India, and Japan. Key exporters often include countries with significant agricultural output and chemical processing capabilities, such as Brazil (soybean oil derivatives), Malaysia and Indonesia (palm oil derivatives), and various European countries (specialty chemical derivatives). Trade agreements can impact the cost of these industrial raw materials, influencing the competitiveness of downstream manufacturing industries globally.
How is HS code 1518 structured?
HS code 1518 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 15 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (15) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (18) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.