If you import or export coconut oil, the coconut oil HS code is the first thing your customs broker will ask for. Get it wrong and you can pay the wrong duty, lose a free trade discount, or watch a container sit at the port while someone sorts out the paperwork. The short answer is this: crude coconut oil goes under 1513.11, and both RBD coconut oil and virgin coconut oil go under 1513.19. There is a bit more to it once you get into national tariff lines, hydrogenated oil and MCT oil, and that’s what this guide is for.
We sell and export crude, RBD and virgin coconut oil to buyers around the world, so the coconut oil HS code shows up on every invoice, packing list and certificate of origin we issue. Below you’ll find how the code is built, which number fits which product, how different countries extend it, and the paperwork mistakes we run into most. Near the end there’s a table of the coconut oil we supply, with the code and the main specs for each grade.
Table of Contents
What an HS Code Actually Is
HS stands for Harmonized System. It’s the product numbering system kept by the World Customs Organization, and almost every trading country builds its customs tariff on top of it. The first six digits are the same everywhere. After that, each country adds its own digits for duty rates and trade statistics.
So when somebody asks you for “the” coconut oil HS code, they mean one of two things. Either the six-digit international code, which reads the same in Rotterdam, Mumbai, Durban or Los Angeles, or the full national code with eight, ten or more digits, which changes from one country to the next. As a seller we always print the six-digit code on our documents. Your broker adds the national digits when the goods are declared.
How the Coconut Oil HS Code Is Built
Coconut oil lives in Chapter 15 of the Harmonized System, which is the chapter for animal and vegetable fats and oils. Inside that chapter, heading 1513 covers coconut (copra) oil, palm kernel oil and babassu oil, and their fractions, whether refined or not, as long as they haven’t been chemically modified. Here’s how it breaks down.
| Level | Code | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 15 | Animal and vegetable fats and oils and their products |
| Heading | 1513 | Coconut (copra), palm kernel or babassu oil and their fractions, not chemically modified |
| Subheading | 1513.11 | Coconut (copra) oil and its fractions: crude oil |
| Subheading | 1513.19 | Coconut (copra) oil and its fractions: other (refined, virgin, refined fractions) |
| Subheading | 1513.21 | Palm kernel or babassu oil: crude oil |
| Subheading | 1513.29 | Palm kernel or babassu oil: other |
The palm kernel lines are in the table on purpose. People confuse coconut oil and palm kernel oil all the time. They’re both lauric oils, they look the same in a drum and they do similar jobs in soap, but customs keeps them apart. If you buy palm products as well, our guide to the palm oil HS code shows where palm oil itself sits.
Crude Coconut Oil HS Code: 1513.11
Crude coconut oil, often written CNO or called copra oil, is pressed or solvent-extracted from dried coconut meat and hasn’t been refined. It’s yellow to light brown, it smells strongly of copra, and it usually carries a few percent free fatty acids. Refineries, oleochemical plants and soap makers buy it as a raw material.
The coconut oil HS code for this product is 1513.11. Filtering or settling the oil to take out solids doesn’t change that. Simple cleaning isn’t refining in customs terms. Once the oil has been neutralized, bleached or deodorized, it leaves 1513.11 and moves to 1513.19.
We supply crude coconut oil in bulk for refining and industrial use. The full set of numbers is in our crude coconut oil specification guide, or you can go straight to the crude coconut oil product page.
RBD Coconut Oil HS Code: 1513.19
RBD coconut oil is crude oil that has been refined, bleached and deodorized. What comes out is clear, almost colourless and close to odourless, which is exactly why biscuit factories, fryers, confectioners and cosmetic makers like it. Because it has been processed past the crude stage, the coconut oil HS code for RBD oil is 1513.19, the “other” line.
Plenty of buyers expect a separate number for “refined” and are a little surprised to see it filed under “other”. That’s normal. At six digits the Harmonized System only splits crude from everything else. Some countries then split 1513.19 again, by pack size or by end use, and we’ll get to those below.
For the actual quality figures, read our RBD coconut oil specification guide. To order, see RBD coconut oil for sale.
Virgin Coconut Oil HS Code: Also 1513.19
This is the one that catches people out. Virgin coconut oil is made from fresh coconut meat, not copra, and it isn’t refined at all. So you’d think “not refined” means “crude”. Customs usually doesn’t read it that way.
In tariff language, “crude” means oil that still has to be refined before people can eat it. Virgin oil is ready to use straight out of the press and filter. It’s a finished food product. That’s why most customs offices put virgin coconut oil under 1513.19, the same coconut oil HS code as RBD oil. We’ve seen buyers declare virgin oil under 1513.11 on their side, and it has raised questions at import more than once. Stay with 1513.19 unless your own customs office has told you otherwise in writing.
The quality numbers for our virgin oil are in the virgin coconut oil specification guide, and you can order from the virgin coconut oil page. If you’re still deciding between the two, our comparison of RBD coconut oil vs virgin coconut oil lays out the differences.
Coconut Oil HS Code for Fractions, Hydrogenated Oil and MCT Oil
Once you move away from plain coconut oil, the right code depends on what has been done to the oil. A useful rule for the coconut oil HS code: physical processes keep you in 1513, chemical processes push you out.
Coconut olein and coconut stearin
If coconut oil is cooled and filtered to split it into a liquid part (olein) and a harder part (stearin), that’s physical fractionation. The heading text says “and their fractions”, so these stay in 1513. Crude fractions go under 1513.11, refined fractions under 1513.19.
Hydrogenated coconut oil
Hydrogenation changes the oil chemically. Hydrogenated coconut oil, the harder fat used in some confectionery coatings and creamers, leaves heading 1513 and normally goes to 1516.20. That subheading covers vegetable fats and oils that are hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised.
MCT oil and “fractionated coconut oil”
This is the messy one. A lot of MCT oil is made by splitting coconut or palm kernel oil into fatty acids, distilling out the caprylic and capric acids, and then joining them back onto glycerol. That’s a chemical route, so it doesn’t belong in 1513. Depending on the country and the exact process it can end up under 1516.20 or somewhere in Chapter 38. If you import MCT in volume, ask your customs office for a binding tariff ruling. It costs very little and saves a lot of arguing later.
Coconut products that aren’t oil
Buyers often ship several coconut products together, so here are the usual starting codes for the others.
| Product | Usual HS code |
|---|---|
| Copra (dried coconut meat) | 1203.00 |
| Desiccated coconut | 0801.11 |
| Copra meal or cake | 2306.50 |
| Hydrogenated coconut oil | 1516.20 |
| Coconut fatty acids | 3823.19 |
| Fatty alcohols | 3823.70 |
| Crude glycerol | 1520.00 |
| Soap made with coconut oil | 3401 |
Treat these as a starting point and check the final digits in your own tariff.
How Countries Extend the Coconut Oil HS Code
Past the first six digits of the coconut oil HS code, every country does its own thing. These are the versions we see most often on the documents we prepare. National tariffs change more often than the Harmonized System itself, so always confirm the current line with your broker before you ship.
European Union
The EU’s Combined Nomenclature splits the coconut oil HS code by end use and by pack size. Crude oil for technical or industrial uses, other than making food, has its own line, 1513 11 10. Crude oil in immediate packings of 1 kg or less is 1513 11 91, and other crude oil is 1513 11 99. Under 1513.19 there are separate lines for solid fractions, for technical or industrial use (1513 19 30), for small packs of 1 kg or less (1513 19 91) and for the rest (1513 19 99). The EU’s Access2Markets tool shows the duty for your country of origin.
One warning. The “technical or industrial use” lines usually come with end-use control, which means you have to prove the oil really went into soap or chemicals and not into food. If you’re a food buyer, don’t pick those lines just because the duty looks lower.
United States
The US uses ten-digit HTS numbers built on the same base: 1513.11.00 for crude coconut oil and 1513.19.00 for refined or virgin oil, followed by statistical suffixes. You can look up the current lines in the official US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Food-grade shipments also need FDA prior notice, which has nothing to do with the tariff code but is checked at the same time.
India, China and the rest of Asia
India uses eight digits: 1513 11 00 for crude and 1513 19 00 for the rest. China writes them as 1513.1100 and 1513.1900. Most ASEAN countries follow the eight-digit AHTN structure with similar splits. In every one of them the six-digit coconut oil HS code stays the same, which is why we always put it on our paperwork.
Middle East and Africa
The Gulf states use a common external tariff with twelve digits, but the base is still 1513.11 or 1513.19. Across Africa most countries now run eight- or ten-digit national lines on the same base, often through regional customs unions. In both regions the bigger headache tends to be labelling, halal paperwork and import permits, not the code itself.
How to Check the Coconut Oil HS Code for Your Shipment
If you’re new to importing, this is the order we’d suggest. It takes ten minutes and saves a lot of back and forth later.
- Pin down the product. Is it crude, refined or virgin? Has it been hydrogenated or fractionated? Get the supplier to state this on the proforma invoice and the certificate of analysis. Vague names like “coconut oil premium” don’t help anyone.
- Pick the six-digit code. Crude goes to 1513.11. Refined and virgin go to 1513.19. Chemically changed oil leaves heading 1513.
- Look up your national tariff. Find the full line in your own country’s tariff database. Note any end-use or pack-size splits.
- Check duty and preferences. See whether a trade agreement lowers the duty and what proof of origin it needs.
- Check non-tariff rules. Food registration, labelling, halal, health certificates and import permits are often tied to the coconut oil HS code you declare.
- Share the code with your supplier. Send it before the documents are drawn up, so every page matches.
- Ask for a ruling if you’re unsure. For unusual products such as MCT or blends, a binding ruling from customs settles it for good.
When you buy from us we do steps one, two and six with you as part of the order. We’ll confirm the coconut oil HS code on the proforma so your broker can work on the rest before the vessel even sails. If your broker suggests a different code, send us their reasoning and we’ll look at it together. It’s much easier to fix a code before loading than after the bill of lading is issued.
A quick word on blends. If you’re buying a mix of coconut oil with another vegetable oil, the coconut oil HS code may no longer apply. Mixtures of different oils are generally classified elsewhere, often under heading 1517 when they’re edible mixtures. Tell us up front if you want a blend so we can get the classification right.
Why the Right Coconut Oil HS Code Matters
- Duty. Crude and refined lines often carry different rates. Some countries tax refined oil more heavily to protect their own refineries.
- Trade agreements. Preferential duty only works if the code on the certificate of origin matches the code on the import declaration.
- Licences and quotas. Some markets cap edible oil imports or require permits tied to specific tariff lines.
- Food checks. Food-grade lines can trigger sampling, label checks and health certificates that industrial lines don’t.
- Audits. A wrong code can come back months later in a post-clearance audit, with back duty and a penalty on top.
Documents That Carry the Coconut Oil HS Code
On a normal shipment the coconut oil HS code appears on most of the document set. The single most useful thing you can do is make sure it’s the same on all of them.
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading, usually inside the description of goods
- Certificate of origin
- Health or phytosanitary certificate, where the importing country asks for one
- Certificate of analysis
- Halal certificate, when requested
For the full list of papers, see our guide to documents required to import vegetable oil. If you pay by letter of credit, the bank will compare the code against the credit terms, so put the right one in the LC application from the start. Our article on letter of credit vs TT payment explains how that check works.
Mistakes We See With the Coconut Oil HS Code
Declaring virgin coconut oil as crude
We covered it above but it’s worth saying twice because it happens so often. The logic sounds fine and customs still disagrees. Virgin oil is a finished food, so it goes under 1513.19.
Mixing up coconut oil and palm kernel oil
They’re cousins, not twins. Palm kernel oil uses 1513.21 and 1513.29. If an invoice says “lauric oil” with no other detail, expect customs to ask which one it is. Our piece on palm kernel oil vs palm oil explains how the kernel oil differs.
Using the industrial line for food oil
In markets that split by end use, the industrial line can look cheaper. If the oil then goes into food, you’ve made a false declaration. The reverse also happens, and it just means you paid more duty than you needed to.
Calling hydrogenated oil “coconut oil”
If your supplier sends hydrogenated coconut oil and the invoice simply says “coconut oil, 1513.19”, the code is wrong. Hydrogenated fat goes to 1516.20. Ask for the product name and the process to be written out properly.
Codes that don’t match across documents
Invoice says 1513.19, certificate of origin says 1513.11, bill of lading has no code at all. That mismatch alone can hold up clearance or kill a preferential duty claim. Before we release documents we cross-check the coconut oil HS code on every page, and we’d suggest you do the same when you receive them.
Trusting a code from an unknown seller
A seller who can’t tell you the right code, or who changes it between the proforma and the final invoice, is a warning sign in general. We wrote a separate piece on how to spot a fake vegetable oil supplier, and this is one of the small tells.
The Coconut Oil We Supply and Its HS Code
Here’s what we sell, which coconut oil HS code goes on the documents, and what each grade is normally used for.
| Product | HS code (6-digit) | Main uses | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude coconut oil (CNO) | 1513.11 | Refining, soap, oleochemicals | Flexitank, ISO tank, drums |
| RBD coconut oil | 1513.19 | Food, frying, bakery, confectionery, cosmetics | Flexitank, ISO tank, drums, jerrycans, tins |
| Virgin coconut oil | 1513.19 | Retail, health food, natural cosmetics, hair oil | Bottles, jerrycans, drums |
Main specs for our refined and virgin oil
| Parameter | RBD coconut oil | Virgin coconut oil |
|---|---|---|
| Free fatty acids (as lauric) | 0.1% max | 0.2% max |
| Moisture and impurities | 0.1% max | 0.1% max |
| Peroxide value | 1.0 meq O2/kg max | 3.0 meq O2/kg max |
| Iodine value (Wijs) | 6 to 11 | 6 to 11 |
| Saponification value | 248 to 265 | 250 to 265 |
| Melting point | About 24 to 26°C | About 24 to 25°C |
| Odour and taste | Neutral | Fresh coconut |
| Shelf life | 18 to 24 months | 18 to 24 months |
Every lot ships with a certificate of analysis, and we’re happy to arrange independent inspection at loading. Our guide to pre-shipment inspection for edible oil explains what the surveyor checks. If you want a feel for pricing before you ask, our coconut oil price per ton guide covers what moves the market. And if you’re wondering why your oil arrives solid in winter, that’s the coconut oil melting point at work, not a quality problem.
How to Order Coconut Oil From Us
Tell us the grade, the quantity, the packing you want and your destination port. We’ll come back with a price, a full spec sheet, the coconut oil HS code we’ll use on the documents, and a sample if you need one. Most of our bulk customers take flexitanks or ISO tanks. Smaller buyers usually go for drums or jerrycans. If you’re not sure which suits you, our comparison of flexitank vs ISO tank is a quick read.
You can browse our full coconut oil range or the wider product list. To talk to us directly, email info@dthcompanyltd.com, message us on WhatsApp at +66 91 765 9104, or use the contact page.
Coconut Oil HS Code: Common Questions
What is the HS code for coconut oil?
At six digits, crude coconut oil is 1513.11 and all other coconut oil, including refined and virgin, is 1513.19. Both sit under heading 1513 in Chapter 15.
Is virgin coconut oil 1513.11 or 1513.19?
Almost always 1513.19. It’s unrefined, but it’s a finished food product, and the “crude” line is meant for oil that still needs refining.
What is the HS code for RBD coconut oil?
1513.19. Refining, bleaching and deodorizing take the oil out of the crude line.
Does the coconut oil HS code change for packed oil?
Not at six digits. Some countries, the EU for example, add separate national lines for packs of 1 kg or less, so your full code may change even though the first six digits don’t.
What is the HS code for hydrogenated coconut oil?
Usually 1516.20, because hydrogenation is a chemical change. It’s no longer covered by heading 1513.
Is the coconut oil HS code the same in every country?
The first six digits are. The extra digits each country adds are not, so always check the national tariff of the importing country.
Can you put the HS code on all shipping documents?
Yes. We print the coconut oil HS code on the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin as standard, and on the bill of lading when the buyer or the bank asks for it.
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