U.S. imports of Industrial Monocarboxylic Fatty Acids and Acid Oils from Refining (SITC 51218) totaled $49.4M in August 2026, imported from 30 countries.
Importers of Industrial Monocarboxylic Fatty Acids and Acid Oils from Refining paid $1.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.54% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataIndustrial monocarboxylic fatty acids — including stearic, oleic, palmitic, and lauric acids — and the acid oils recovered as byproducts of vegetable-oil refining are foundational oleochemical inputs for soaps, lubricants, rubber processing, and surfactant manufacture. Acid oils from refining are lower-purity, lower-cost co-products that compete with virgin fatty acids in price-sensitive applications such as animal feed supplements and biodiesel feedstocks. Titer point, iodine value, and free fatty acid content are the critical quality parameters that determine grade suitability and pricing in commercial contracts.
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348 import shipments a month
Acid oils are the acidic byproduct stream recovered during alkali refining of vegetable oils; they contain a mixture of free fatty acids, glycerides, and other impurities. Refined fatty acids are further processed to higher purity and specific chain-length profiles. The distinction matters for both pricing and end-use compliance — acid oils used in animal feed may require additional regulatory review depending on the destination country.
Key specifications include titer point (solidification temperature, indicating C18 content), iodine value (degree of unsaturation), free fatty acid content, and color (Gardner or Lovibond scale). Single-pressed, double-pressed, and triple-pressed grades reflect increasing C18 purity and command progressively higher prices; buyers should confirm the grade in the purchase contract and certificate of analysis.
Basic heading 77 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 51218 · $49.4M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Indonesia and Malaysia together supply 82% of it. Honduras pays 12.3% duty; Indonesia 0.3%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$49.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$14.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $520.9M of Industrial Monocarboxylic Fatty Acids and Acid Oils from Refining and exported $173.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.