Vegetable oils; ground-nut oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified

HS code 150890 covers a wide range of processed vegetable oils, including ground-nut (peanut) oil and its fractions. These oils are essential commodities in the global food and industrial supply chains, playing a crucial role in the production of a diverse array of products. The vegetable oil industry is a significant contributor to the broader agricultural and manufacturing sectors, providing raw materials for everything from cooking oils and food products to cosmetics and biofuels.

The production of vegetable oils under HS code 150890 typically involves a multi-step process. First, the raw oilseeds or nuts are harvested, cleaned, and prepared for extraction. The oils are then extracted using mechanical pressing, chemical solvents, or a combination of both methods. After extraction, the oils undergo refining, which may include degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization, to remove impurities and improve the quality and stability of the final product.

The main inputs required for the production of vegetable oils under HS code 150890 include the raw oilseeds or nuts, such as peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and others. Additionally, the industry relies on specialized machinery and equipment for the extraction, refining, and packaging processes. Energy sources, such as electricity or natural gas, are also essential inputs for the various stages of production.

The primary outputs of the vegetable oil industry covered by HS code 150890 are the refined, edible vegetable oils and their fractions. These oils can be used directly for cooking, frying, and other culinary applications, or they may be further processed and incorporated into a wide range of food products, such as 150710 Soybean oil and its fractions, 151110 Palm oil and its fractions, and 151219 Sunflower-seed or safflower oil and fractions thereof. Additionally, these oils may find use in the production of industrial and non-food items, such as cosmetics, lubricants, and biofuels.