HS Code for Biodiesel

Heading 382600 specifically encompasses biodiesel and its various mixtures, provided they do not contain, or contain less than, 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals. Biodiesel, chemically defined as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), is a renewable fuel derived from sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking oil. Its classification under Chapter 38, "Miscellaneous chemical products," reflects its nature as a processed chemical product rather than a raw agricultural commodity or a petroleum product. The critical criterion for inclusion in this heading is the proportion of petroleum-derived components. If the petroleum content is below the 70% threshold, the product's primary characteristic is considered to be biodiesel, aligning it with this specific HS code. This distinction is vital for international trade and regulatory purposes, differentiating pure biodiesel and biodiesel-dominant blends from conventional fossil fuels or blends where petroleum is the predominant component.

Products Included

• Pure fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) intended for fuel use
• Biodiesel fuel meeting ASTM D6751 or EN 14214 standards
• Blends of biodiesel with other non-petroleum components (e.g., additives, other biofuels) where petroleum content is less than 70% by weight
• Biodiesel derived from various feedstocks such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, or used cooking oil

Common Misclassification

271020: This heading covers petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, containing biodiesel, but where the petroleum content constitutes 70% or more by weight. Biodiesel blends with a high proportion of conventional diesel fuel (e.g., B7, B20, B50 if the petroleum content exceeds 70%) would be classified here, not under 382600. The determining factor is the percentage by weight of petroleum oils.
151800: This code pertains to chemically modified animal or vegetable fats and oils, or inedible mixtures thereof, but does not specifically cover fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) used as fuel. While biodiesel originates from these raw materials, the chemical transformation into FAME for fuel purposes places it in Chapter 38 as a distinct chemical product.

FAQ

What is the HS code for Biodiesel?

The HS code for pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends containing less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals is 382600.

How is the 70% petroleum threshold applied for biodiesel classification?

The 70% threshold refers to the weight percentage of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals in the mixture. If the product contains less than 70% of these petroleum-derived components, it is classified as biodiesel under 382600. If it contains 70% or more, it is classified under Chapter 27, typically 271020, as a petroleum product containing biodiesel.