U.S. imports of crude palm kernel & babassu oil and fractions (HS 151321) totaled $5K in April 2026, traded with 1 country.
Palm kernel oil — extracted from the seed of the oil palm fruit — and babassu oil, derived from a Brazilian palm species, share a single 10-digit line (1513210000) in the US tariff schedule due to their similar fatty acid profiles, both being rich in lauric acid. Colombia leads US imports of crude palm kernel oil, reflecting the country's significant oil palm cultivation, with Germany and Portugal also appearing as suppliers (often as re-exporters of processed material). The crude grade is primarily a feedstock for oleochemical and soap manufacturing rather than direct food use.
Track Crude Palm Kernel & Babassu Oil and Fractions and get alerts when trade data updates
Create a free account to build your watchlist
The HS system groups them together because both oils share a nearly identical fatty acid composition — dominated by lauric and myristic acids — making them functionally interchangeable in most industrial and food applications. This co-classification means importers must ensure their commercial invoice and certificate of analysis clearly identify the specific oil type to support accurate record-keeping, even though both fall under the same tariff line.
Palm oil (heading 1511) is extracted from the fleshy mesocarp of the oil palm fruit and is rich in palmitic acid, giving it a semi-solid texture at room temperature. Palm kernel oil (heading 1513) is extracted from the hard inner seed and has a lauric-acid-dominant profile similar to coconut oil. They are distinct commodities with different tariff headings, different end uses, and different supply chains — confusing them is a common classification error.
Monthly import values over time
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 151321 — Crude Palm Kernel & Babassu Oil and Fractions. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports
$5K
from 1 country · YTD: $19K
Exports: $0
Deficit of $5K (net importer)
Trade balance: deficit of $5K (net importer)
YTD: $19K imported (April 2026)
1 shipments/month
Top U.S. entry points for this product, ranked by latest-month import value.