Product classification
HS code for Industrial fats: 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 industrial fats under HS 1518.00
Industrial fats and oils are classified under HS code 1518.00. This heading is specifically designed for animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils that have undergone chemical modification such as boiling, oxidation, dehydration, or sulfurization. It also includes inedible mixtures or preparations of these fats. The classification is based on the fact that these products are no longer in their natural or simply refined state and are generally unfit for human consumption. Under GRI 1, products that have been 'blown' (oxidized by air) or polymerized by heat are excluded from headings 1507 to 1515 and must be placed in 1518.00. This code is vital for the chemical and manufacturing industries where these modified fats serve as raw materials for paints, lubricants, and plastics.
- Covers
- Boiled linseed oil for industrial use
- Oxidized (blown) soybean oil
- Dehydrated castor oil
- Sulfurized fish oils
- Inedible mixtures of animal and vegetable fats
- Maleic vegetable 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. Industrial fats are frequently misclassified under headings 1507 through 1515, which are reserved for pure, unmodified vegetable oils. If the oil has been chemically altered for industrial purposes, those codes are incorrect. Another common error is confusing these with HS code 1516, which covers fats that have been hydrogenated or inter-esterified. While 1516 involves chemical change, 1518.00 is the specific home for 'modified' oils like boiled or oxidized versions. Additionally, fully prepared lubricating greases should be checked against heading 3403 rather than 1518.00.
Top exporters and importers of HS 151800 (the code used for industrial fats), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 151800 (the code used for industrial fats) 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 industrial fats.
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 industrial fats
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 industrial fats
What is the HS code for Industrial fats?
The HS code for Industrial fats 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 HS code for chemically modified or inedible mixtures of industrial fats and oils is 1518.00.
How do I classify Industrial fats for customs?
Industrial fats 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 food-grade oils classified under 1518.00?
No, food-grade oils are typically classified in headings 1507 to 1515 (unmodified) or 1516 (hydrogenated), as 1518.00 is primarily for industrial, inedible applications.
Which countries are the top exporters of industrial fats (HS 151800)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 151800 (the code used for industrial fats) 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 industrial fats (HS 151800)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 151800 (the code used for industrial fats) 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 Industrial fats the same in all countries?
The base HS code 151800 for Industrial fats 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 industrial fats in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 151800 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for industrial fats depends on the product's details: 1518.00.10 (Epoxidised vegetable oil), 1518.00.90 (Other modified fats, oils and inedible mixtures).