Vegetable fats and oils and their fractions; partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised, whether or not refined, but not further prepared

HS code 151620 covers a crucial segment of the global fats and oils industry. These partially or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised vegetable fats and oils play a vital role in a wide range of industries, from food manufacturing to personal care products. As a key input for many downstream 151710 Margarine and edible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils, this industry is an integral part of the broader agricultural and consumer goods supply chains.

The production of the goods covered by HS code 151620 involves several key steps. Vegetable oils, such as soybean, palm, or sunflower oil, are first subjected to hydrogenation, a process that adds hydrogen to the oil to increase its saturation and raise the melting point. The oils may then undergo inter-esterification or re-esterification, which rearranges the fatty acid composition to achieve desired physical and chemical properties. Finally, the oils may be elaidinised, a process that converts cis-unsaturated fatty acids to the more stable trans-unsaturated form.

The main inputs required for the production of goods under HS code 151620 are vegetable oils, such as 150710 Soya-bean oil and its fractions, 151110 Palm oil and its fractions, and 151211 Sunflower-seed or safflower oil and fractions thereof. Additionally, the production process requires specialized equipment for hydrogenation, inter-esterification, and other chemical modifications. Skilled labor and energy sources, such as electricity or natural gas, are also essential inputs.

The primary outputs of the industry covered by HS code 151620 are partially or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised vegetable fats and oils. These products are then used as inputs for a variety of downstream industries, including 151710 Margarine and edible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils, 151800 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their fractions, boiled, oxidised, dehydrated, sulphurised, blown, polymerised by heat in vacuum or in inert gas or otherwise chemically modified, and 340600 Candles, tapers and the like, among others.