HSChapter 38
U.S. imports of industrial fatty alcohols (HS 382370) totaled $10.3M in April 2026, traded with 20 countries.
Last updated: April 2026 dataIndustrial fatty alcohols — long-chain primary alcohols such as lauryl, cetyl, stearyl, and oleyl alcohol — are key oleochemical intermediates for surfactants, personal care emollients, lubricants, and plasticizers. Indonesia and Malaysia dominate US supply, as both countries operate large integrated palm and palm-kernel oil refining complexes that produce fatty alcohols as a downstream product. The US tariff schedule subdivides this heading into oleyl alcohol (3823702000), other animal- or vegetable-origin fatty alcohols (3823704000), and a residual NESOI line (3823706000), making the feedstock origin and carbon-chain profile central to correct classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Oleyl alcohol (C18:1, unsaturated) has its own dedicated 10-digit line, 3823702000, distinguishing it from saturated or mixed-chain fatty alcohols. Importers should confirm the carbon chain and degree of unsaturation in the product specification, as blends containing oleyl alcohol alongside saturated alcohols may require classification under the NESOI line 3823706000 depending on the predominant component.
Both countries host vertically integrated oleochemical complexes that process palm and palm-kernel oil through fractionation and hydrogenation to produce fatty alcohols at scale. This integration gives them a cost and logistics advantage over producers relying on imported feedstocks, making supply concentration a real risk-management consideration for US buyers.
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETHERLANDS | $100K | $21.2M | +$21.1M |
| JAPAN | $52K | $5.9M | +$5.8M |
| MALAYSIA | $4.8M | -- | -$4.8M |
| CANADA | -- | $4.0M | +$4.0M |
| MEXICO | -- | $3.8M | +$3.8M |
Monthly import values over time