Subheading · Chapter 15 · Heading 1516
1516.30: Microbial fats and oils and their fractions
Subheading 1516.30 belongs to heading 1516 (animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their fractions, partly or…) in chapter 15.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 1516 30 00 00 Microbial fats and oils and their fractions
- 1516 30 91 00 In immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg 12%
- 1516 30 98 00 Other 10%
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 1
- 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)
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 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
- 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
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 10% – 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 France | £933k | 97.8% | +27.5% |
 Sri Lanka | £7k | 0.7% | +94.3% |
 United Arab Emirates | £6k | 0.6% | — |
 Netherlands | £4k | 0.5% | — |
 United States | £3k | 0.3% | +44.4% |
 Poland | £936 | 0.1% | — |
 Italy | £931 | 0.1% | — |
 Ireland | £0 | 0% | -100% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 10.9% – 12.8% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 11.9% 
Türkiye 46.8% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines USA specific or compound duty General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 5% 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 – 5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 1.7% 
Japan 3.5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · 2× specific or compound duty 
Norway 14.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$47kUS$47k+US$549k+US$2m+> US$5m
Exports: 70
- Canada: US$8m
- Italy: US$5m
- Tanzania: US$5m
- France: US$3m
- Austria: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$2m
- United States: US$1m
- Norway: US$1m
- Türkiye: US$933k
- Malaysia: US$902k
- Indonesia: US$690k
- China: US$665k
- Spain: US$638k
- Kenya: US$549k
- Germany: US$537k
- Latvia: US$425k
- Belgium: US$331k
- India: US$183k
- Portugal: US$141k
- Poland: US$137k
- Sweden: US$135k
- Finland: US$126k
- Saudi Arabia: US$85k
- Switzerland: US$73k
- Ghana: US$71k
- Czechia: US$68k
- Vietnam: US$61k
- Singapore: US$59k
- Taiwan: US$47k
- United Arab Emirates: US$47k
- Thailand: US$46k
- South Korea: US$38k
- Honduras: US$25k
- South Africa: US$24k
- Croatia: US$18k
- Lithuania: US$18k
- United Kingdom: US$18k
- Denmark: US$17k
- Romania: US$15k
- Cyprus: US$14k
- Russia: US$14k
- Australia: US$11k
- Brazil: US$10k
- Israel: US$2k
- Morocco: US$2k
- Mexico: US$2k
- Iceland: US$1k
- Fiji: US$1k
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$500
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$300
- Japan: US$300
- Panama: US$300
- Costa Rica: US$200
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$100
- Colombia: US$100
- Ireland: US$100
- Luxembourg: US$100
- Chad: US$100
- Argentina: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$27kUS$27k+US$330k+US$801k+> US$4m
Imports: 85
- South Korea: US$8m
- Greece: US$6m
- Zambia: US$4m
- United States: US$3m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Austria: US$2m
- Germany: US$1m
- Tanzania: US$801k
- Netherlands: US$752k
- Lithuania: US$747k
- Taiwan: US$656k
- United Kingdom: US$569k
- Canada: US$544k
- Norway: US$524k
- Romania: US$507k
- South Sudan: US$426k
- Morocco: US$423k
- Belgium: US$409k
- Portugal: US$401k
- Poland: US$330k
- Saudi Arabia: US$245k
- Spain: US$230k
- Denmark: US$201k
- Guatemala: US$192k
- Australia: US$173k
- Switzerland: US$153k
- Slovenia: US$152k
- South Africa: US$135k
- Luxembourg: US$112k
- France: US$100k
- Mexico: US$95k
- Czechia: US$95k
- China: US$89k
- Italy: US$81k
- Brazil: US$79k
- India: US$72k
- Estonia: US$52k
- Malaysia: US$47k
- Latvia: US$29k
- Colombia: US$27k
- Israel: US$27k
- United Arab Emirates: US$25k
- Japan: US$23k
- Argentina: US$21k
- New Zealand: US$21k
- Sweden: US$18k
- Senegal: US$17k
- Ireland: US$16k
- Türkiye: US$15k
- Vietnam: US$14k
- Uzbekistan: US$14k
- Barbados: US$13k
- Mozambique: US$12k
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$12k
- Chile: US$12k
- Iceland: US$10k
- Singapore: US$7k
- Rwanda: US$7k
- Azerbaijan: US$6k
- Zimbabwe: US$5k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | US$8m | 21.7% |
| 2 | Italy | US$5m | 13.5% |
| 3 |  Tanzania | US$5m | 13.3% |
| 4 | France | US$3m | 9.4% |
| 5 |  Austria | US$2m | 6.2% |
| 6 | Netherlands | US$2m | 4.9% |
| 7 |  Bulgaria | US$2m | 4.5% |
| 8 | United States | US$1m | 3.6% |
| 9 | Norway | US$1m | 2.8% |
| 10 | Türkiye | US$933k | 2.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Korea | US$8m | 22.5% |
| 2 |  Greece | US$6m | 17% |
| 3 |  Zambia | US$4m | 12.1% |
| 4 | United States | US$3m | 7.8% |
| 5 |  Hungary | US$2m | 5.7% |
| 6 | Austria | US$2m | 4.7% |
| 7 |  Germany | US$1m | 3% |
| 8 | Tanzania | US$801k | 2.2% |
| 9 | Netherlands | US$752k | 2.1% |
| 10 |  Lithuania | US$747k | 2.1% |
Import duty on this product around the world 92
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
- 11number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 80%highest: India, Türkiye, Bahamas
92
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Armenia | 14% | 12% – 15% | 2023 |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 40% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 40% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 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 | 25% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 30% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 14% | 2023 | |
 Dominican Republic | 8% | 2023 | |
 El Salvador | 15% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 30% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 10% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 12% | 11% – 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 | 80% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 40% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 3.5% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 9.3% | 8% – 10% | 2023 |
 Kenya | 25% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 10% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 20% | 2023 | |
 Malaysia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Morocco | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 1.7% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Nicaragua | 15% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 14% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Panama | 15% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 13% | 0% – 25% | 2023 |
 Philippines | 9% | 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 | 8% | 2023 | |
| Sri Lanka | 15% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 40% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 40% | 2023 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
| Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 27%* | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
| Türkiye | 47% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 25% | 2023 | |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 11% | 10% – 12% | 2023 |
| United States | 3.1%* | 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
- 43122 Vegetable fats & oils & their fractions, partly/wholly hydrogenate
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 111210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 21693 Vegetable oils and their fractions, partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised, whether or not refined, but not further prepared
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1040 Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1516.20 | changed |
| 2012 | 1516.20 | changed |
| 2007 | 1516.20 | changed |
| 2002 | 1516.20 | changed |
| 1996 | 1516.20 | changed |
| 1992 | 1516.20 | 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.
- N355338 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Algae Oil from Norway
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
- Tariff change · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1395 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 1516.20.
The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 1516.30 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is between 10% and 12% (average 11%).
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, subheading 1516.30 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is between 10.9% 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 10% – 12%.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £953.8k between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 29% on the year before); France supplied 98%, followed by Sri Lanka.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$36m (+76.9% year on year).
The largest exporter was Canada (US$8m), followed by Italy.
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 1516.30, part of heading 1516, 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 1516.30 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 10% 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 1516.30 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 10.9% 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?
Canada, with US$8m in 2024 (21.7% 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 10% – 12% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were France (98%), Sri Lanka (1%) and United Arab Emirates (1%), out of total imports of £953.8k.