HS code 1517.10 covers Margarine — for example table & baking margarine. South Africa applies an indicative general customs duty of 10%, on top of which 15% import VAT is charged.
Worked example: landed cost on R100,000 of goods
| Customs value (CIF) | R100,000 |
| Customs duty (10%) | R10,000 |
| Import VAT (15% on ATV) | R18,000 |
| Estimated landed cost | R128,000 |
VAT is charged on the Added Tax Value (customs value + 10% upliftment for non-SACU imports + duties). Figures exclude clearing, freight and any anti-dumping/safeguard duty. For an exact, all-in figure use the Duty & VAT Calculator.
Where HS 1517.10 sits in the tariff
Classification is decided at heading level first. Heading 1517 is “Margarine; edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils or of fractions of different fats or oils of this Chapter, other than edible fats and oils or their fractions of heading 15.16”. If your product is closer to one of the neighbouring subheadings below, that line — and its duty rate — is the one that applies.
- 1517.10 Margarine; excluding liquid margarine — this page
- 1517.90 Edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils or of fractions of different fats or oils of this Chapter, n.e.c. in heading 1517, other than edible fats and oils or their fractions of heading 15.16
Harmonised System HS 2022 nomenclature. See the whole of Chapter 15 →
Watch HS 1517.10 for changes
Duty rates, anti-dumping measures and permit rules change by Government Gazette. We’ll email you if this code’s status shifts.
Data current as of 2026-08-06. Indicative general (MFN) rate — real duty can differ at 8-digit level, under trade agreements (SADC, EU-EPA) and by Government Gazette. This is guidance, not a tariff determination under s47(9) of the Customs & Excise Act, 1964. Verify against the current SARS Tariff Book.
More codes in Chapter 15 — Animal & vegetable fats, oils & waxes
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on margarine in South Africa?
HS code 1517.10 (Margarine) attracts an indicative general customs duty of 10% in South Africa, plus 15% import VAT charged on the Added Tax Value. Verify the exact rate in the current SARS Tariff Book.
What is the HS code for table & baking margarine?
The Harmonised System heading for margarine is 1517.10. South Africa uses an 8-digit tariff line based on this heading — confirm the precise 8-digit code in the SARS Tariff Book before importing.