1511 - Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified:

This HTS category encompasses palm oil and its various fractions, in their natural or refined state, provided they have not undergone chemical modification. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree and is a staple commodity with widespread industrial and culinary applications. The scope of this heading is specifically limited to the unchemically modified forms of palm oil and its components, such as palmitic acid and oleic acid derived from palm oil, when presented as oils or fractions thereof.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling entries within Chapter 15 is crucial for accurate classification. While other headings in this chapter might cover different types of animal or vegetable fats and oils (e.g., Chapter 15 covers olive oil, soybean oil, or animal fats), heading 1511 is exclusively dedicated to palm oil and its fractions. Furthermore, it differs from chemically modified palm oil products found in other HTS chapters, which would be classified based on their specific chemical transformations and end uses.

Within heading 1511, two primary subcategories exist to differentiate between the state of the palm oil. The first, 1511.10.00.00, covers crude palm oil, which is the unrefined product directly extracted from the palm fruit. The second, 1511.90.00.00, encompasses all other palm oil and its fractions that are not crude, including refined palm oil and specific fractions like palm stearin or palm olein. This distinction is important for trade purposes, as crude and refined oils often have different market values and regulatory treatments.