Sun-flower seed, safflower or cotton-seed oil and their fractions; whether or not refined, but not chemically modified (heading 1512): importing markets
HS heading 1512 covers sunflower-seed, safflower and cottonseed oil and their fractions, refined or not, but not chemically modified. In 2025 India (USD…
Published on 9 November 2026Updated on 9 November 2026
HS heading 1512 covers sunflower-seed, safflower and cottonseed oil and their fractions, refined or not, but not chemically modified. In 2025 India (USD 3.46 billion), Türkiye (USD 1.57 billion) and Italy (USD 1.33 billion) were the three largest importers according to UN Comtrade. Spain also ranks fourth, which matters for a company exporting from Spain.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 9 November 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 1512
- Chapter
- 15 · Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
- Subheadings
- 4
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| India | 3,459,595,161 |
| Türkiye | 1,571,093,492 |
| Italy | 1,328,317,293 |
| Spain | 1,168,706,161 |
| Netherlands | 1,024,449,383 |
| China | 1,019,597,300 |
| Belgium | 916,186,020 |
| Germany | 713,040,623 |
| France | 577,898,588 |
| Egypt | 479,104,180 |
| United States | 325,521,241 |
| United Kingdom | 291,908,493 |
| Saudi Arabia | 286,113,549 |
| Iraq | 277,759,980 |
| Uzbekistan | 270,494,828 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 9 November 2026
What to know before exporting under heading 1512
Heading 1512 belongs to chapter 15 of the Harmonized System and has 4 subheadings. The heading covers the oils of three crops and their fractions. It excludes oils that have been chemically modified, which are classified elsewhere in the chapter.
The first task is to classify the product at the right subheading. The distinction between crude and refined oil, and between sunflower, safflower and cottonseed oil, determines the code. Tariffs, quotas and documents are attached to that code, so a wrong subheading means a wrong duty calculation.
The demand is concentrated. The 15 markets in the table above include large Asian buyers (India, China), neighbours in the Mediterranean and Middle East (Türkiye, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) and several EU countries (Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France). The latter group matters for a company exporting from Spain, because shipments within the EU do not involve customs duties on the goods, although they do require the usual VAT and intra-EU statistical declarations.
For destinations outside the EU, the duty depends on the subheading, the destination and the trade agreement in force with the EU. It is checked per product and country in Access2Markets, the European Commission portal for exporters. Do not rely on a figure for the whole heading: it can differ between subheadings.
Import figures are declared by each importer and show total purchases from the world, not purchases from Spain. They indicate where the demand is, not how open each market is to a Spanish supplier. Competition from large producing countries, the origin of the oil and the buyer's quality requirements are checked market by market.
As a food product, the oil is subject to the destination's rules on labelling, contaminants and food safety. Those requirements vary by country and, in some, by the intended use (retail, industrial or food service). The importer or the competent authority of the destination confirms them before the first order.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 9 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
What products fall under HS 1512?
Heading 1512 covers sunflower-seed oil, safflower oil and cottonseed oil, together with their fractions. They may be crude or refined. Oils that have been chemically modified are not included. The heading has 4 subheadings, and the exact code depends on the oil and on whether it is crude or refined.
Which countries import the most under HS 1512?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest importers were India (USD 3.46 billion), Türkiye (USD 1.57 billion), Italy (USD 1.33 billion), Spain (USD 1.17 billion) and the Netherlands (USD 1.02 billion). These are total imports from the world, not purchases from any one supplier.
Where can I check the import duty for this product from Spain?
Access2Markets, the European Commission portal, gives the duty, rules of origin and requirements per product and destination country. Enter the full code at subheading level, because the duty can differ between subheadings and depends on whether the EU has a trade agreement with the destination.
Do I pay customs duties when selling to Italy, Spain or the Netherlands?
No customs duties apply to goods moving within the EU single market. Shipments from Spain to Italy or the Netherlands are intra-EU supplies, with VAT rules and statistical declarations instead of import duties. Duties only come into play for destinations outside the EU, such as Türkiye, India or Egypt.
Does a large import volume mean the market is easy to enter?
No. Import volume shows the size of demand, not its accessibility. Access depends on the tariff, on competing origins, on the importer's quality requirements and on food-safety rules at the destination. These are checked for each market before choosing where to prioritise.
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