Sourcing coconut and palm kernel oils from China
Coconut, palm kernel and babassu oils from China carry ordinary UK duty of 2% to 12%, with conditional suspensions on selected lines. Confirm applicable food hygiene, labelling and contaminant requirements for food-grade oils with the relevant food authority; industrial grades need a separate specification. Cambridge China Bridge sources coconut, palm kernel and babassu oils.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Duty by oil, processing and pack size
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 1513 covers coconut, palm kernel and babassu oils and their fractions, whether crude or refined, but not chemically modified. Ordinary China rates are 2% for crude industrial oils, 4% for other industrial oils, 6% for other bulk crude oils, 10% for bulk solid fractions, 8% for other bulk non-crude oils and 12% for relevant immediate packs not exceeding 1 kg. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
The supplied tariff records suspensions to 0.00 % on 1513 11 10 20 and 1513 19 99 00, and authorised-use suspensions on 1513 19 30 20, 1513 21 10 20 and 1513 29 30 20. Their footnotes exclude mixtures, preparations and multicomponent products containing these oils. Check eligibility before budgeting. Waste import and export controls are attached throughout; organic import controls are attached to selected lines. Confirm the commodity code, intended use and suspension conditions with your broker and our classification guide.
For organic oils from China, the tariff attaches an inspection-certificate control: confirm the required certificate and clearance arrangements with your customs broker and approved organic control body before shipping. For oils that may be waste, confirm the applicable shipment controls with your broker. For notified waste imports into England, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude coconut oil for other non-food industrial uses | 1513 11 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Other crude coconut oil, immediate packs not exceeding 1 kg | 1513 11 91 00 | 12% | None |
| Other crude coconut oil, larger immediate packs | 1513 11 99 00 | 6% | None |
| Non-crude coconut oil solid fractions, larger immediate packs | 1513 19 19 00 | 10% | None |
| Other non-crude coconut oil, immediate packs not exceeding 1 kg | 1513 19 91 00 | 12% | None |
| Other non-crude coconut oil, larger immediate packs | 1513 19 99 00 | 8% | None |
| Other crude palm kernel or babassu oil, larger immediate packs | 1513 21 90 00 | 6% | None |
| Non-crude palm kernel or babassu solid fractions, larger immediate packs | 1513 29 19 00 | 10% | None |
| Other non-crude palm kernel or babassu oil, packs not exceeding 1 kg | 1513 29 50 00 | 12% | None |
| Other non-crude palm kernel or babassu oil, larger immediate packs | 1513 29 90 00 | 8% | None |
Specify the oil and its melting behaviour
Name the oil explicitly: coconut, palm kernel or babassu. State crude or refined, whole oil or fraction, food or industrial use, deodorisation, and whether any other oil or additive is present. Ask the supplier to identify the manufacturing site and the source of the feedstock.
Agree limits for free fatty acids, peroxide value, moisture, insoluble impurities and colour, with test methods and batch analysis. For solid fractions, agree the melting profile against your bakery, confectionery or formulation trial. Specify storage conditions, shelf life, drum or liner material, seals and immediate pack net contents.
For food use, confirm applicable food information, food hygiene and contaminant requirements with the relevant food authority. Ask for batch-linked test reports and label artwork before approving production. Use factory verification to check the plant and its records.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 tonnes of refined palm kernel oil in drums under 1513 29 90 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,500. Duty at 8% is £2,600. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,100, so it is £7,020. Import taxes total £9,620; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,600 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the oil, refining process, fraction and batch references to the order and analysis certificate; retain a sealed sample.
Condition: check for rancid or unexpected odours, water, sediment and colour variation; compare laboratory results with the agreed specification.
Packing: check drum seams, closures, liner condition, leaks and net contents; compare seals with dispatch records.
Documents: match labels, batch analysis and shipping descriptions; review organic or waste paperwork where relevant. Plan sampling with our inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A generic description such as vegetable oil hides the oil identity, refining stage or fraction. An approved sample can perform differently from the shipped batch if its melting profile or free fatty acid content changes. Off-odours, sediment and leaking drums are reasons to hold acceptance pending investigation.
Do not budget from the supplier's suggested code alone. Pack size and intended use affect the tariff line, and a recorded suspension needs an eligibility check. Agree the specification, sampling method and document review before paying the balance.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on coconut and palm kernel oil from China?
Ordinary duty ranges from 2% to 12%, depending on processing, use and immediate pack size. Selected lines have conditional suspensions to 0.00 %. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Can I use industrial coconut oil in food?
Do not accept an industrial specification for food manufacture. Order food-grade oil with batch analysis, contaminant checks and a specification suited to your recipe.
What should I check before ordering organic coconut oil?
Confirm the inspection certificate and clearance arrangements with your customs broker and approved organic control body before shipping. Match the organic description to the batch and documents.
How do I check a palm kernel oil supplier?
Check the actual refining site, feedstock records, batch laboratory results and packing process. Trial the melting behaviour in your own product and compare shipment samples with the approved specification.