Product classification
HS code for Castor oil: 1515.30
Vegetable oils, castor oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.
Classification of castor oil under HS 1515.30
Castor oil is classified under HS code 151530. This heading covers fixed vegetable fats and oils and their fractions. Castor oil is unique due to its high ricinoleic acid content, which is extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. The classification applies to the oil whether it is crude, refined, or purified, provided that the chemical structure has not been modified. Processes such as degumming, neutralizing, bleaching, and deodorizing are permitted under this code. However, if the oil is hydrogenated, epoxidized, or otherwise chemically altered, it must be classified elsewhere. This oil is widely used in industrial, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications, but the HS code remains consistent based on its vegetable origin and lack of chemical modification, following the rules of Chapter 15.
- Covers
- Crude castor oil (first pressing)
- Refined castor oil (BSS grade)
- Pharmaceutical grade castor oil (not put up as medicament)
- Pale pressed castor oil
- Fractions of castor oil, not chemically modified
- Also under 1515.30
- Skyrun Castor Oil
- Ambuja Solvex Castor Oil
- Jayant Agro-Organics Castor Oil
- Now Solutions Castor Oil
Codes often confused with 1515.30
Common mistake. Castor oil is frequently misclassified when it has undergone chemical processing. Hydrogenated castor oil (often called castor wax) is classified under 151620. Dehydrated castor oil, which is used in the paint industry, is classified under 151800 as an oxidized or modified oil. If the castor oil is put up in measured doses or packings for retail sale as a medicament (laxative), it may fall under 3004. Additionally, Turkey Red Oil (sulfonated castor oil) is classified under 3402 as a surface-active agent.
Top exporters and importers of HS 151530 (the code used for castor oil), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 151530 (the code used for castor oil) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 87% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 43% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 151530, not only castor oil.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $1.1B 87% of world exports
- 2 Germany $40M 3.3% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $40M 3.2% of world exports
World total: $1.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $510M 43% of world imports
- 2 Germany $120M 10.0% of world imports
- 3 United States $102M 8.5% of world imports
World total: $1.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for castor oil
Brazil classifies castor oil under NCM 1515.30.00: HS 1515.30 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about castor oil
What is the HS code for Castor oil?
The HS code for Castor oil is 151530 (Vegetable oils; castor oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified). The HS code for castor oil and its fractions, whether or not refined but not chemically modified, is 151530.
How do I classify Castor oil for customs?
Castor oil is classified under HS code 151530 — Vegetable oils; castor oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is hydrogenated castor oil included in this code?
No, hydrogenated castor oil is classified under HS code 151620 as it has undergone a specific chemical modification process.
Which countries are the top exporters of castor oil (HS 151530)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 151530 (the code used for castor oil) in UN Comtrade data were India ($1.1B, 87% of world exports), Germany ($40M) and the Netherlands ($40M). World exports came to about $1.2B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of castor oil (HS 151530)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 151530 (the code used for castor oil) in UN Comtrade data were China ($510M, 43% of world imports), Germany ($120M) and the United States ($102M). World imports came to about $1.2B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Castor oil the same in all countries?
The base HS code 151530 for Castor oil is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for castor oil in Brazil?
In Brazil, castor oil (HS 151530) is classified under NCM 1515.30.00.