EU Palm Oil Tariff for Palm Oil Guide

Palm oil imported into the European Union is generally classified under CN heading 1511, covering palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined but not chemically modified. The applicable conventional customs duty depends on the more specific CN subheading. Crude palm oil for technical or industrial use other than food manufacture is listed as duty-free under 1511 10 10, while other crude palm oil under 1511 10 90 carries a conventional rate of 3.8%.

Refined palm oil and palm fractions are not all treated the same. Under the EU schedule, solid fractions packed in quantities not exceeding 1 kg fall under 1511 90 11 at 12.8%, while other solid fractions under 1511 90 19 are listed at 10.9%. Palm oil and liquid fractions intended for qualifying technical or industrial non-food use fall under 1511 90 91 at 5.1%, while other products under 1511 90 99 carry a conventional 9% duty. This is why a buyer should determine the exact CN code before comparing landed costs.

The conventional tariff is only the starting point. Preferential trade agreements can reduce or eliminate duties where the goods satisfy the applicable rules of origin. Colombia has an EU trade agreement in operation, Honduras and Guatemala trade with the EU under the Central America Association Agreement, and Papua New Guinea receives duty-free and quota-free EU access under its Economic Partnership Agreement.

Malaysia does not yet have an EU free-trade agreement in force; EU-Malaysia FTA negotiations resumed in 2025 and remain ongoing. Indonesia's CEPA negotiations were concluded in September 2025, but as of October 2026 the agreement has not yet entered into force. Therefore, statements that Indonesia already has blanket “zero-tariff palm oil access” under the CEPA are premature. Exporters and importers should verify the exact CN code, origin preference, proof-of-origin requirements and current TARIC measures immediately before contracting or customs clearance.