Product classification
HS code for Palm oil: 1511.90
Vegetable oils, palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.
Classification of palm oil under HS 1511.90
Palm oil and its fractions that have been refined but not chemically modified are classified under HS code 151190. Chapter 15 covers animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products. Heading 1511 is specifically for palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. This heading is split between crude oil (151110) and "other" (151190). The 151190 code includes palm oil that has undergone refining processes such as bleaching, deodorizing, or neutralizing. It also includes specific fractions of the oil, such as palm olein (the liquid fraction) and palm stearin (the solid fraction), which are separated through crystallization and fractionation. These products are widely used in the food industry for frying, shortening, and as ingredients in various processed foods. The classification depends on the oil being derived from the mesocarp of the oil palm fruit and having undergone refining without changing its chemical structure through hydrogenation or interesterification.
- Covers
- Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized (RBD) palm oil
- Palm olein (liquid fraction)
- Palm stearin (solid fraction)
- Refined palm oil for cooking
- Fractionated palm oil
- Also under 1511.90
- Cargill RBD Palm Olein
- Musim Mas RBD Palm Oil
- Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) Refined Palm Products
- AAK Refined Palm Oil
Codes often confused with 1511.90
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is using HS code 151110, which is strictly for crude (unrefined) palm oil. Importers also frequently confuse palm oil with palm kernel oil (HS code 151321). While both come from the same plant, palm oil (1511) comes from the fruit pulp, whereas palm kernel oil (1513) comes from the seed/nut. Chemically modified palm oils (e.g., hydrogenated) must be classified under 1516.
Top exporters and importers of HS 151190 (the code used for palm oil), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 151190 (the code used for palm oil) in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 57% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Pakistan, with 11% 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 151190, not only palm oil.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Indonesia $21.3B 57% of world exports
- 2 Malaysia $11.8B 31% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $1.1B 3.0% of world exports
World total: $37.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Pakistan $3.8B 11% of world imports
- 2 China $3.5B 9.8% of world imports
- 3 United States $1.8B 5.1% of world imports
World total: $35.7B 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 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 palm oil
Brazil classifies palm oil under NCM 1511.90.00: HS 1511.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
Questions about palm oil
What is the HS code for Palm oil?
The HS code for Palm oil is 151190 (Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified).
How do I classify Palm oil for customs?
Palm oil is classified under HS code 151190 — Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for refined palm oil?
The HS code for refined palm oil and its non-chemically modified fractions is 151190.
What is the difference between HS 151110 and 151190?
HS 151110 is used for crude, unprocessed palm oil, while 151190 is used for palm oil that has been refined or separated into fractions like olein and stearin.
Which countries are the top exporters of palm oil (HS 151190)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 151190 (the code used for palm oil) in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($21.3B, 57% of world exports), Malaysia ($11.8B) and the Netherlands ($1.1B). World exports came to about $37.7B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of palm oil (HS 151190)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 151190 (the code used for palm oil) in UN Comtrade data were Pakistan ($3.8B, 11% of world imports), China ($3.5B) and the United States ($1.8B). World imports came to about $35.7B, 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 Palm oil the same in all countries?
The base HS code 151190 for Palm 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 palm oil in Brazil?
In Brazil, palm oil (HS 151190) is classified under NCM 1511.90.00.