Product classification
HS code for Chemically modified oils: 1518.00
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.
Classification of chemically modified oils under HS 1518.00
Chemically modified oils are classified under HS code 1518.00. This heading covers animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils that have undergone specific chemical transformations such as boiling, oxidation, dehydration, sulfurization, blowing, or polymerization by heat in a vacuum or inert gas. These processes alter the physical and chemical properties of the oil, making them suitable for industrial applications like paints, varnishes, or lubricants. The classification is governed by Chapter 15, which deals with fats and oils. Heading 1518 is a residual category for oils that have been modified but do not meet the criteria for medicinal products, perfumes, or food preparations found in later chapters. It specifically excludes oils that have been hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified, or elaidinised, which are instead classified under heading 1516.
- Covers
- Boiled linseed oil used in wood finishing
- Oxidized soybean oil (blown oils)
- Dehydrated castor oil for industrial coatings
- Sulfurized fish oils for leather treatment
- Maleic vegetable oils
- Polymerized nut oils
- Also under 1518.00
- Rust-Oleum Boiled Linseed Oil
- Faci Group fatty acid derivatives
- Cargill industrial oils
- BASF oleochemicals
Codes often confused with 1518.00
Common mistake. A common error is classifying these products under HS code 1516.20, which is reserved for vegetable fats and oils that have been hydrogenated or solidified. While both involve chemical changes, 1516 is specific to hydrogenation, whereas 1518 covers a broader range of modifications like oxidation and boiling. Another misclassification occurs with HS code 3823.19 (industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids); however, 1518 is preferred when the product retains its triglyceride structure despite the chemical modification.
Top exporters and importers of HS 151800 (the code used for chemically modified oils), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 151800 (the code used for chemically modified oils) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 21% 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 151800, not only chemically modified oils.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $3.0B 26% of world exports
- 2 Malaysia $1.6B 14% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $1.3B 12% of world exports
World total: $11.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $2.6B 21% of world imports
- 2 United States $2.6B 21% of world imports
- 3 Singapore $1.6B 13% of world imports
World total: $12.5B 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 codes for chemically modified oils
Brazil splits HS 1518.00 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 1518.00.10Epoxidised vegetable oil
- 1518.00.90Other modified fats, oils and inedible mixtures
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chemically modified oils
What is the HS code for Chemically modified oils?
The HS code for Chemically modified oils is 151800 (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). The primary HS code for chemically modified animal, vegetable, or microbial oils is 1518.00.
How do I classify Chemically modified oils for customs?
Chemically modified oils is classified under HS code 151800 — 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. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are edible mixtures of oils included in 1518.00?
No, edible mixtures of animal or vegetable fats and oils are generally classified under HS code 1517, unless they have been chemically modified in the ways described for 1518.
Which countries are the top exporters of chemically modified oils (HS 151800)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 151800 (the code used for chemically modified oils) in UN Comtrade data were China ($3.0B, 26% of world exports), Malaysia ($1.6B) and the Netherlands ($1.3B). World exports came to about $11.3B, 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 chemically modified oils (HS 151800)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 151800 (the code used for chemically modified oils) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($2.6B, 21% of world imports), the United States ($2.6B) and Singapore ($1.6B). World imports came to about $12.5B, 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 Chemically modified oils the same in all countries?
The base HS code 151800 for Chemically modified oils 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 chemically modified oils in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 151800 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for chemically modified oils depends on the product's details: 1518.00.10 (Epoxidised vegetable oil), 1518.00.90 (Other modified fats, oils and inedible mixtures).