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Crude Glycerol from Biodiesel Production

Crude glycerol is a byproduct obtained during the transesterification process in biodiesel manufacturing from vegetable oils or animal fats. It typically contains 80-88% glycerol along with methanol, soaps, and catalyst residues, falling under HTS 1520.00.00.00 as crude glycerol not further refined.

Import Duty Rates by Country of Origin

Origin CountryMFN RateCh.99 SurchargesTotal Effective Rate
🇨🇳ChinaFree+17.5%17.5%
🇲🇽MexicoFree+10.0%10%
🇨🇦CanadaFree+10.0%10%
🇩🇪GermanyFree+10.0%10%
🇯🇵JapanFree+10.0%10%

Alternative Classifications

This product could be classified differently depending on its characteristics or intended use.

3823.19.20.00Higher: 19.8% vs 17.5%

If heavily contaminated with biodiesel process residues and not primarily glycerol

Industrial fatty alcohols or mixed chemical byproducts from biodiesel may fall under Chapter 38 as fatty substances.

1518.00Higher: 18% vs 17.5%

If derived from specific vegetable oil hydrolysis and mixed with fatty acids

Glycerol from incomplete separation in vegetable oil processing can be seen as continuous fraction under heading 1518.

Not sure which classification is right?

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Import Tips & Compliance

Verify glycerol purity levels (<95%) via lab analysis to confirm crude classification; refined glycerol shifts to HTS 1520.90

Include Certificates of Analysis (COA) detailing impurities like methanol and salts to avoid reclassification as hazardous waste

Check for biodiesel origin documentation, as EU/US crude glycerol often requires sustainability certifications for preferential tariffs

Related Products under HTS 1520.00.00.00

Soap Lyes from Soap Manufacturing

Soap lyes are aqueous waste solutions from the saponification process in soap production, containing 10-20% glycerol dissolved in salty water with residual soaps. Classified under HTS 1520.00.00.00 as glycerol lyes due to their glycerol content and crude state.

Glycerol Waters from Fatty Acid Distillation

Glycerol waters are dilute aqueous streams from the hydrolysis and distillation of animal or vegetable fats, carrying 5-15% dissolved glycerol and salts. They are imported for glycerol recovery and classified as glycerol waters under HTS 1520.00.00.00.

Crude Glycerin Byproduct from Palm Oil Refining

Crude glycerin generated during palm kernel oil splitting contains around 85% glycerol with impurities like mono/di-glycerides and water. It fits HTS 1520.00.00.00 for crude glycerol from tropical oil processing.

Tallow Glycerol Lyes from Animal Fat Splitting

Glycerol lyes from beef tallow hydrolysis contain dissolved glycerol in alkaline spent liquor from fat splitting operations. Imported by renderers for recovery, classified under HTS 1520.00.00.00 as glycerol lyes.

Spent Sweetwater from Oleochemical Production

Spent sweetwater, also known as glycerol waters, arises from glycerine production via fat splitting, holding 8-12% glycerol in dilute form. HTS 1520.00.00.00 covers this crude stream before evaporation.

Crude Glycerol from Soybean Oil Transesterification

Byproduct crude glycerol from soybean oil biodiesel production, containing catalyst and methanol impurities at 82% glycerol content. Falls squarely under HTS 1520.00.00.00 for crude industrial glycerol.