HS Code for Oleic acid

Oleic acid of industrial grade is classified under HS code 3823.12. This code is located within Chapter 38, which covers miscellaneous chemical products. Heading 3823 specifically addresses industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids and acid oils from refining. Subheading 3823.12 is dedicated to oleic acid. It is important to distinguish between industrial-grade fatty acids, which are mixtures of fatty acids where one component predominates, and chemically pure fatty acids. The industrial version classified here is typically derived from the hydrolysis of animal or vegetable fats followed by distillation or fractional crystallization. It is widely used in the production of soaps, detergents, lubricants, and cosmetics. The classification under 3823.12 is appropriate when the product is a commercial mixture of fatty acids containing a high percentage of oleic acid (typically 70% or more) but not meeting the strict purity requirements of Chapter 29.

Products Included

• Commercial grade oleic acid
• Red oil (industrial oleic acid)
• Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acid mixtures (oleic-rich)
• Saponified animal or vegetable fats (distilled)
• Oleic acid for industrial lubricant manufacturing

Common Misclassification

The most common misclassification for oleic acid is HS code 2916.15. Code 2916.15 is reserved for chemically pure oleic acid, its salts, and esters. If the oleic acid has a purity of 90% or higher (by weight of the dry product), it may be considered a separate chemically defined compound and moved to Chapter 29. Another error involves 3823.19, which is the residual category for other industrial fatty acids like linoleic acid. Additionally, before the 2022 HS updates, some fatty acids were confused with 1519, but 3823 is now the standard heading for these industrial products.

FAQ

What is the HS code for industrial oleic acid?

The HS code for industrial-grade oleic acid is 3823.12.

When should I use 2916.15 instead of 3823.12?

You should use 2916.15 only if the oleic acid is a chemically pure, separate defined compound, typically with a purity level exceeding 90%.