Subheading · Chapter 15 · Heading 1515
1515.60: Microbial fats and oils and their fractions
Subheading 1515.60 belongs to heading 1515 (other fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils) in chapter 15.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 1515 60 00 00 Microbial fats and oils and their fractions
- Crude oils
- 1515 60 11 00 For technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption
- Other
- 1515 60 51 00 Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg 12%
- 1515 60 59 00 Solid, other; fluid 6%
- Other
- 1515 60 60 00 For technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption
- Other
- 1515 60 91 00 Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg 12%
- 1515 60 91 10 Arachidonic acid oil 12%
- 1515 60 91 90 Other 12%
- 1515 60 99 00 Solid, other; fluid 8%
- 1515 60 99 10 Arachidonic acid oil 8%
- 1515 60 99 20 Microbial oil, refined or semi-refined, but not chemically modified, containing by weight in the form of triglycerides: -35% or more but not more than 70% of arachidonic acid -not more than 3% by weight of docosahexaenoic acid 8%
- 1515 60 99 90 Other 8%
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 4
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- Duty suspensionNon preferential duty under end-use 2%
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/1430
- Documents
- N990 EUS - Authorisation for the use of end use procedure (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Tariff lines
- on 1 of 9 lines
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Duty suspensionNon preferential duty under end-use 4%
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/1430
- Documents
- N990 EUS - Authorisation for the use of end use procedure (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Tariff lines
- on 1 of 9 lines
Import requirements 3
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/590
- Documents
- C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
- Import controlImport control of organic products
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/693
- Documents
- Tariff lines
- on 7 of 9 lines
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 6% – 12% |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £931k | 75.6% | +2,235.4% |
 United States | £201k | 16.3% | -51.2% |
 France | £31k | 2.5% | — |
 Norway | £21k | 1.7% | — |
 Italy | £20k | 1.6% | +75.2% |
 Kenya | £12k | 0.9% | +48.8% |
 Germany | £10k | 0.8% | — |
 Switzerland | £3k | 0.3% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 3.2% – 12.8% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines · average 8.3% 
Türkiye 19.5% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines USA 3.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 9% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 9% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan specific or compound duty General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Taiwan 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Switzerland Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · 2× specific or compound duty Norway 12.7% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$40kUS$40k+US$1m+US$9m+> US$22m
Exports: 80
- Australia: US$36m
- United Kingdom: US$26m
- China: US$22m
- Malaysia: US$13m
- United States: US$13m
- Indonesia: US$12m
- Netherlands: US$9m
- France: US$9m
- Canada: US$7m
- Germany: US$4m
- New Zealand: US$4m
- Norway: US$4m
- Spain: US$3m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Singapore: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$1m
- India: US$1m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$1m
- Türkiye: US$1m
- Italy: US$1m
- Israel: US$544k
- Iceland: US$427k
- Sweden: US$326k
- United Arab Emirates: US$223k
- Austria: US$219k
- Japan: US$204k
- Poland: US$200k
- Brazil: US$169k
- Kenya: US$154k
- Finland: US$86k
- Czechia: US$82k
- Ireland: US$77k
- Denmark: US$74k
- South Africa: US$70k
- Lithuania: US$67k
- Morocco: US$62k
- Portugal: US$49k
- Switzerland: US$41k
- Croatia: US$38k
- Lesotho: US$37k
- Egypt: US$32k
- Mexico: US$26k
- Slovenia: US$25k
- Mauritius: US$19k
- Sri Lanka: US$17k
- Ghana: US$10k
- Romania: US$9k
- Chile: US$7k
- Taiwan: US$7k
- Thailand: US$7k
- Burkina Faso: US$6k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$5k
- Hungary: US$5k
- Malta: US$5k
- Saudi Arabia: US$4k
- Iran: US$4k
- South Korea: US$3k
- Russia: US$3k
- Tanzania: US$2k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$31kUS$31k+US$384k+US$5m+> US$13m
Imports: 104
- China: US$43m
- Tanzania: US$29m
- Germany: US$16m
- United States: US$13m
- France: US$13m
- Netherlands: US$12m
- Belgium: US$8m
- Switzerland: US$6m
- Norway: US$5m
- Italy: US$5m
- Canada: US$5m
- Ireland: US$4m
- Australia: US$3m
- South Korea: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Brazil: US$1m
- Indonesia: US$866k
- New Zealand: US$857k
- Spain: US$844k
- India: US$823k
- Saudi Arabia: US$751k
- Poland: US$744k
- Thailand: US$562k
- Portugal: US$528k
- Russia: US$422k
- Mexico: US$384k
- Denmark: US$379k
- United Kingdom: US$374k
- Colombia: US$310k
- Czechia: US$279k
- Japan: US$254k
- Austria: US$247k
- Latvia: US$229k
- Malaysia: US$204k
- Türkiye: US$203k
- Bulgaria: US$136k
- Lithuania: US$134k
- South Africa: US$106k
- Slovakia: US$103k
- Hungary: US$90k
- Finland: US$79k
- Sweden: US$78k
- Ukraine: US$72k
- Taiwan: US$60k
- Zambia: US$54k
- Vietnam: US$53k
- Slovenia: US$47k
- Greenland: US$37k
- Croatia: US$34k
- Jordan: US$33k
- Pakistan: US$31k
- Singapore: US$29k
- Serbia: US$24k
- Romania: US$22k
- Greece: US$21k
- Nicaragua: US$21k
- Iceland: US$20k
- Estonia: US$19k
- Georgia: US$18k
- Luxembourg: US$18k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Australia | US$36m | 20.2% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | US$26m | 14.7% |
| 3 | China | US$22m | 12.3% |
| 4 |  Malaysia | US$13m | 7.5% |
| 5 | United States | US$13m | 7.2% |
| 6 |  Indonesia | US$12m | 6.5% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$9m | 5.1% |
| 8 | France | US$9m | 5% |
| 9 | Canada | US$7m | 4% |
| 10 | Germany | US$4m | 2.5% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$43m | 24.2% |
| 2 |  Tanzania | US$29m | 16.5% |
| 3 | Germany | US$16m | 8.8% |
| 4 | United States | US$13m | 7.6% |
| 5 | France | US$13m | 7.1% |
| 6 | Netherlands | US$12m | 6.9% |
| 7 |  Belgium | US$8m | 4.4% |
| 8 | Switzerland | US$6m | 3.2% |
| 9 | Norway | US$5m | 3.1% |
| 10 | Italy | US$5m | 2.8% |
Import duty on this product around the world 91
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 10%median duty
- 17number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 100%highest: India, Belize, Jamaica
91
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 25% | 15% – 30% | 2023 |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
| Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 40% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cameroon | 30% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Central African Republic | 30% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 30% | 2023 | |
| China | 20% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 30% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 14% | 2023 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 El Salvador | 15% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 30% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 10% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 8.3% | 3.2% – 13% | 2023 |
 Fiji | 15% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 30% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Ghana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guatemala | 15% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Honduras | 15% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 India | 100% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 40% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0.5%* | 0.4% – 0.5% | 2023 |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0% | 2023 | |
| Kenya | 25% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 10% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 20% | 2023 | |
| Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Morocco | 21% | 2.5% – 40% | 2023 |
 Mozambique | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 15% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 13% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Panama | 10% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 5% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Rwanda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 South Africa | 10% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 20% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 40% | 2023 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
| Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 10%* | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
| Türkiye | 20% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 25% | 2023 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 7.3% | 2% – 12% | 2023 |
| United States | 3.2% | 2023 | |
 Vanuatu | 10% | 2023 | |
 Vietnam | 30% | 2023 | |
 Zambia | 25%* | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.2% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2022–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 4229 Other fixed vegetable fats, crude, refined/fractionated, other than “soft”
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 111210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 21691 Other vegetable oils, crude or refined, n.e.c.
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1040 Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats1062 Manufacture of starches and starch products
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1515.90 | changed |
| 2012 | 1515.90 | changed |
| 2007 | 1515.90 | changed |
| 2002 | 1515.40, 1515.90 | changed |
| 1996 | 1515.40, 1515.60, 1515.90 | changed |
| 1992 | 1515.40, 1515.60, 1515.90 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 1
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N336121 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification, country of origin, marking, and eligibility of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) for Kappamega3 300 Lemon from Canada
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Tariff change · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R2163 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Suspension · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1463 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Other
Update to Commodity Code structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU – 30 June 2026
Trade Tariff news 6995 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
- Other
Trade Tariff news 4948 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 1515.90.
The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 1515.60 into 9 tariff lines; the duty is between 6% and 12% (average 9.4%).
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, subheading 1515.60 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is between 3.2% and 12.8%.
168 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of 6% – 12%.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £1.2m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 145% on the year before); China supplied 76%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$178m (+55.8% year on year).
The largest exporter was Australia (US$36m), followed by the United Kingdom.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for microbial fats and oils and their fractions?
Microbial fats and oils and their fractions fall under HS subheading 1515.60, part of heading 1515, in section III of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on microbial fats and oils and their fractions in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 1515.60 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6% to 12%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on microbial fats and oils and their fractions in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 1515.60 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 3.2% to 12.8%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most microbial fats and oils and their fractions?
Australia, with US$36m in 2024 (20.2% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
168 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of 6% – 12% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (76%), United States (16%) and France (3%), out of total imports of £1.2m.