Product classification
HS code for Crude safflower oil: 1512.11
Vegetable oils, sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified.
Classification of crude safflower oil under HS 1512.11
Crude safflower oil is classified under HS code 1512.11. This classification is governed by the legal notes of Chapter 15, which pertains to animal or vegetable fats and oils. Heading 1512 specifically includes sunflower-seed, safflower, or cotton-seed oil and their fractions. The subheading 1512.11 is a joint category that covers both sunflower-seed oil and safflower oil, provided they are in their crude state. Safflower oil is obtained from the seeds of Carthamus tinctorius. The term "crude" in this context refers to oils that have been obtained by pressure or solvent extraction and have not been subjected to refining processes. These oils typically contain impurities such as phosphatides, free fatty acids, and coloring matter. The classification process requires identifying the botanical source of the oil and confirming that no chemical modification or refining has occurred. This code is essential for international trade statistics and the application of tariffs, as crude vegetable oils are often subject to different duty rates than their refined counterparts. The oil must remain in its natural state, although basic filtration or centrifugal separation to remove solid particles is permitted without changing the classification from crude to refined.
- Covers
- Raw safflower seed oil
- Unrefined safflower oil fractions
- Crude Carthamus oil
- Filtered raw safflower oil
- Non-deodorized safflower oil
- Also under 1512.11
- Bunge Crude Sunflower Oil
- ADM Crude Safflower Oil
- Cargill Crude Sunflower Oil
- Kernel Holding S.A. Crude Sunflower Oil
Codes often confused with 1512.11
Common mistake. Crude safflower oil is often misclassified under HS code 1512.19, which is reserved for refined sunflower-seed or safflower oil. The distinction is based on whether the oil has undergone neutralization, bleaching, or deodorization. Another common error is misclassifying it under 1515.90 (other vegetable oils) if the importer fails to recognize that safflower is specifically named in heading 1512. It may also be confused with crude cotton-seed oil (1512.21), which requires distinct botanical identification.
Top exporters and importers of HS 151211 (the code used for crude safflower oil), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 151211 (the code used for crude safflower oil) in UN Comtrade data was Ukraine, with about 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 27% 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 151211, not only crude safflower oil.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Ukraine* ~$4.2B 35% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Russia* ~$3.5B 28% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Argentina $1.0B 8.6% of world exports
World total: $12.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $3.4B 27% of world imports
- 2 Türkiye $1.5B 12% of world imports
- 3 Spain $1.0B 8.1% of world imports
World total: $12.7B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 crude safflower oil
Brazil splits HS 1512.11 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 1512.11.10Crude sunflower-seed oil
- 1512.11.20Crude safflower oil
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about crude safflower oil
What is the HS code for Crude safflower oil?
The HS code for Crude safflower oil is 151211 (Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified). The HS code for crude safflower oil is 1512.11, which also includes crude sunflower-seed oil.
How do I classify Crude safflower oil for customs?
Crude safflower oil is classified under HS code 151211 — Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How is crude safflower oil distinguished from refined?
Crude oil (1512.11) contains natural impurities and has not been neutralized or bleached, whereas refined oil (1512.19) has been processed for clarity and shelf stability.
Which countries are the top exporters of crude safflower oil (HS 151211)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 151211 (the code used for crude safflower oil) in UN Comtrade data were Ukraine (about $4.2B, 35% of world exports), Russia (about $3.5B) and Argentina ($1.0B). World exports came to about $12.1B, 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 crude safflower oil (HS 151211)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 151211 (the code used for crude safflower oil) in UN Comtrade data were India ($3.4B, 27% of world imports), Türkiye ($1.5B) and Spain ($1.0B). World imports came to about $12.7B, 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 Crude safflower oil the same in all countries?
The base HS code 151211 for Crude safflower 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 crude safflower oil in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 151211 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for crude safflower oil depends on the product's details: 1512.11.10 (Crude sunflower-seed oil), 1512.11.20 (Crude safflower oil).