Who buys castor oil & derivatives in Houston
Buyer sectors in Houston relevant to castor oil & derivatives: chemicals/petrochem traders.
- Trade hub: Hillcroft Avenue 'Mahatma Gandhi District' (VERIFIED, Wikipedia Little India)
- Trade hub: Houston Produce / Houston Farmers Market (ASSUMPTION)
- Trade hub: FTZ No. 84 Port Houston (ASSUMPTION)
Buyer-sector notes are our market assessment; wholesale market names are checked where marked in our data.
Castor Oil & Derivatives for Houston buyers: typical specification
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Acid value (FSG) | ≤ 2.0 mg KOH/g (typical) |
| Moisture & volatiles | ≤ 0.25% (typical) |
| Hydroxyl value | 160-168 (typical) |
| Iodine value | 82-90 (typical) |
| Saponification value | 176-187 (typical) |
Agreed per contract and confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Clearing castor oil & derivatives into United States
| Requirement | Regulator | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Import permit / phytosanitary | USDA APHIS | APHIS permit (where required); PSC; ACIR tool; ISPM-15 WPM |
| Lacey Act | USDA APHIS / CBP | Lacey Act plant product declaration |
| Facility registration | FDA | Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent |
| Advance notice of each shipment | FDA | Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air) |
| Importer supplier verification | FDA (FSMA) | FSVP by the US importer |
| Process filing | FDA | FCE registration + SID process filing |
General guidance; confirm with your customs broker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does castor oil & derivatives take to reach Houston from India?
About 30-38 via Suez; 38-45 via Cape days at sea from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to Houston, plus inland and clearance time (estimate).
Where are the wholesale markets for imported food and goods in Houston?
Hillcroft Avenue 'Mahatma Gandhi District' (VERIFIED, Wikipedia Little India); Houston Produce / Houston Farmers Market (ASSUMPTION); FTZ No. 84 Port Houston (ASSUMPTION).
Can you deliver castor oil & derivatives door-to-door in Houston?
Yes on DAP terms through partner forwarders, provided the importer of record in United States handles customs clearance.
Which United States registration is needed?
Import permit / phytosanitary (USDA APHIS); Lacey Act (USDA APHIS / CBP).
What is FSG castor oil?
First Special Grade: the benchmark industrial specification (low acid value and moisture, light colour) used in most contracts.
Is castor oil hazardous to ship?
No. Castor oil is not classified as dangerous goods. The toxic ricin stays in the seed meal, not the oil.
Related
Castor Oil & Derivatives for Houston: request a quote
Quantity, grade and delivery terms are enough to start.