Heading · Chapter 15
1521: Vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured
2 subheadings make up heading 1521 in chapter 15 (animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products).
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
EU Free – 2.5% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 0.6% 
Türkiye Free – 2.5% Third-country duty 7 tariff lines · average 0.7% 
USA Free – 4.8% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 1.6% 
Canada Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 10% 
Brazil 9% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Argentina 9% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Peru Free – 6% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 1.2% 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 1.3% 
Japan Free – 12.8% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
Taiwan 2.5% – 7.5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 4.8% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 22 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · 1× specific or compound duty 
Norway Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 2% – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 3.5% 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines Subheadings 2
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$187kUS$187k+US$1m+US$8m+> US$35m
Exports: 108
- Brazil: US$115m
- China: US$56m
- Germany: US$35m
- United States: US$30m
- Mexico: US$16m
- Netherlands: US$11m
- Vietnam: US$10m
- France: US$10m
- Japan: US$9m
- India: US$8m
- Argentina: US$6m
- Indonesia: US$5m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- Spain: US$4m
- Tanzania: US$3m
- Italy: US$3m
- Canada: US$3m
- Belgium: US$3m
- Australia: US$3m
- New Zealand: US$2m
- Togo: US$2m
- United Kingdom: US$2m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Poland: US$1m
- Ethiopia: US$1m
- Ukraine: US$1m
- Zambia: US$851k
- Colombia: US$766k
- Cuba: US$738k
- El Salvador: US$722k
- Greece: US$661k
- Czechia: US$643k
- Cameroon: US$633k
- Türkiye: US$618k
- South Africa: US$557k
- Austria: US$497k
- Uruguay: US$489k
- South Korea: US$427k
- Kenya: US$333k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$320k
- Taiwan: US$318k
- Nicaragua: US$306k
- Bulgaria: US$293k
- Portugal: US$286k
- Iran: US$282k
- Egypt: US$274k
- Central African Republic: US$232k
- Sweden: US$230k
- Finland: US$187k
- Madagascar: US$185k
- Senegal: US$139k
- Lithuania: US$135k
- Slovenia: US$132k
- Russia: US$121k
- Romania: US$97k
- Israel: US$92k
- Peru: US$84k
- Estonia: US$83k
- Uganda: US$76k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$120kUS$120k+US$1m+US$2m+> US$14m
Imports: 174
- United States: US$68m
- Germany: US$54m
- China: US$29m
- Japan: US$24m
- France: US$22m
- Netherlands: US$14m
- Italy: US$12m
- Spain: US$10m
- Canada: US$10m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Poland: US$9m
- United Kingdom: US$9m
- Belgium: US$8m
- India: US$6m
- Australia: US$6m
- Mexico: US$5m
- Philippines: US$4m
- Algeria: US$2m
- Slovakia: US$2m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Greece: US$2m
- South Africa: US$2m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Russia: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$2m
- Czechia: US$2m
- Switzerland: US$2m
- Estonia: US$2m
- Ireland: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$2m
- Singapore: US$2m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- Brazil: US$1m
- Colombia: US$1m
- Serbia: US$1m
- Denmark: US$1m
- Angola: US$1m
- Peru: US$1m
- Sweden: US$1m
- Bulgaria: US$1m
- Austria: US$1m
- Malaysia: US$1m
- Israel: US$1m
- Vietnam: US$987k
- Romania: US$956k
- New Zealand: US$951k
- Chile: US$747k
- Portugal: US$729k
- Egypt: US$654k
- Luxembourg: US$635k
- Pakistan: US$609k
- Tunisia: US$590k
- Lithuania: US$559k
- Norway: US$559k
- Argentina: US$510k
- Ecuador: US$479k
- Croatia: US$463k
- Venezuela: US$459k
- Dominican Republic: US$457k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | US$115m | 32% |
| 2 |  China | US$56m | 15.7% |
| 3 |  Germany | US$35m | 9.6% |
| 4 | United States | US$30m | 8.3% |
| 5 | Mexico | US$16m | 4.5% |
| 6 |  Netherlands | US$11m | 3.1% |
| 7 |  Vietnam | US$10m | 2.7% |
| 8 |  France | US$10m | 2.7% |
| 9 | Japan | US$9m | 2.5% |
| 10 |  India | US$8m | 2.4% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$68m | 18.9% |
| 2 | Germany | US$54m | 15% |
| 3 | China | US$29m | 8% |
| 4 | Japan | US$24m | 6.7% |
| 5 | France | US$22m | 6.1% |
| 6 | Netherlands | US$14m | 3.8% |
| 7 |  Italy | US$12m | 3.4% |
| 8 |  Spain | US$10m | 2.9% |
| 9 | Canada | US$10m | 2.7% |
| 10 |  South Korea | US$10m | 2.6% |
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
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 1521 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 1521 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 2.5% (average 0.6%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 1521 covers 7 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 2.5%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 1521 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 4.8% (average 1.6%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 1521 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 1521 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 15% (average 10%). 1 of them is duty-free.
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 1521 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is 9%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 1521 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 9%.
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 1521 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 4 of them are duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 1521 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 1.3%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 1521 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 12.8%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 1521 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is between 2.5% and 7.5% (average 4.8%).
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 1521 covers 22 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 1521 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free. 4 of them are duty-free. 1 line has a specific or compound duty.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 1521 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 1521 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is between 2% and 5% (average 3.5%).
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 1521 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
World trade in heading 1521 goods reached US$361m in 2024, up 9.6% on 2023.
Brazil was the largest exporter with 32% of the total, ahead of China.
The United States imported the most (US$68m).
The United Kingdom ranked 22nd among 108 exporters with US$2m.
The United Kingdom imported US$9m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured?
Vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured fall under HS heading 1521, part of chapter 15, in section III of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on vegetable waxes in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 1521 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on vegetable waxes in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 1521 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 2.5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most vegetable waxes?
Brazil, with US$115m in 2024 (32% of world exports).