Whale oil, seal oil, and other marine mammal-derived fats and oils occupy a heavily regulated niche in international trade, with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) imposing strict import prohibitions on products derived from most marine mammals. Commercial importation of whale oil is effectively barred under both the MMPA and the International Whaling Commission moratorium framework, making this heading relevant primarily for legacy industrial uses, scientific research samples, or certain indigenous subsistence products subject to specific exemptions. Importers must obtain US Fish and Wildlife Service authorization and verify that any shipment does not originate from a protected species or prohibited harvest.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Commercial importation of most marine mammal products — including oils — is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Narrow exemptions exist for scientific research, certain Alaska Native subsistence products, and pre-Act antique items. Any potential import requires prior authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and should be reviewed by legal counsel familiar with MMPA requirements.
Many marine mammal species are listed under CITES Appendix I or II, requiring both CITES export permits from the country of origin and US import permits from the Fish and Wildlife Service. CITES compliance is a necessary but not sufficient condition — MMPA restrictions apply independently and are generally more prohibitive for commercial trade.
Basic heading 39 of 41 in section 4
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Imports · December 2025
origin
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
—YoY · free account
Exports
—YoY · free account
Low of 2 reported months · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to December 2025, the U.S. imported $9K of Marine Mammal Fats and Oils and Their Fractions.
Fewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade, or the latest month was under $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through December 2025 · imports 2 of 12 months reported, exports 6 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.