U.S. imports of Castor Oil & Fractions (Whether or Not Refined, Not Chemically Modified) (HS 151530) totaled $7.3M in August 2026, imported from 16 countries.
Importers of Castor Oil & Fractions (Whether or Not Refined, Not Chemically Modified) paid $768K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 9.42% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataCastor oil's uniquely high ricinoleic acid content makes it irreplaceable in specialty lubricants, hydraulic fluids, nylon-11 polymer production, and cosmetic formulations — applications that drive consistent industrial demand regardless of food-oil price cycles. India overwhelmingly dominates global castor oil production and is the primary US supplier, with China a secondary source; this concentration creates meaningful supply-chain risk for manufacturers dependent on uninterrupted flow. A single tariff line (1515300000) covers crude, refined, and fractionated castor oil, so the processing state does not affect classification at the 10-digit level.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
112 import shipments a month
Unlike most vegetable oils, which have separate headings for crude and refined grades, castor oil and its fractions — whether crude, refined, or fractionated — all fall under 1515300000. This is because the HS nomenclature treats castor oil as a distinct commodity defined by its botanical origin and fatty acid profile rather than its processing state. Importers should still document the refining level for FDA food-use compliance if applicable.
India accounts for the vast majority of global castor bean cultivation and crushing, making it the near-exclusive origin for US castor oil imports. This concentration means that monsoon variability, Indian export policy changes, or logistics disruptions can cause significant price and availability swings. Buyers reliant on castor oil for polymer or lubricant production often maintain strategic inventory buffers or dual-source from secondary suppliers such as China to manage this risk.
Subheading 3 of 8 in heading 1515
Subheading 151530 · $7.3M of $129.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$7.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $87.2M of Castor Oil & Fractions (Whether or Not Refined, Not Chemically Modified) and exported $16.2M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 151530 — Castor Oil & Fractions (Whether or Not Refined, Not Chemically Modified), so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1515300000 | Castor Oil/Its Fractions W/N Refined not Chem Modf | $8.2M | 9.42% | 93.84% | $768K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1515300000 | Castor Oil/Its Fractions W/N Refined not Chem Modf | $1.2M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
India and South Korea together supply 99% of it. China pays 20.0% duty; India 9.4%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.0600% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 9.42% of imports for consumption.