Palm oil comes from the fruit of the oil palm, principally Elaeis guineensis. Individual fruits grow together in large fresh fruit bunches and contain several distinct layers. The valuable palm oil is located primarily within the fleshy mesocarp, the oil-bearing tissue surrounding the hard shell and kernel. This is why technically precise descriptions should say palm oil is extracted from the fruit mesocarp rather than simply saying it comes from the seed.
After fresh fruit bunches are harvested, the fruits are separated, heated and digested so that the oil-bearing mesocarp tissue can be broken down. Mechanical screw presses then press crude palm oil from the digested fruit material. MPOB describes commercial Malaysian milling as using mechanical pressing to extract oil from the mesocarp before clarification and purification.
Palm oil comes from the fleshy mesocarp of oil-palm fruit, while palm kernel oil comes from the kernel.
One oil-palm fruit produces two distinct oil sources. Palm oil comes from the fleshy mesocarp, while palm kernel oil comes from the kernel inside the fruit's hard shell. Because the oils originate from different tissues, they also have different fatty-acid compositions, physical properties and downstream applications. This distinction is important for buyers and manufacturers specifying palm-based raw materials.
Crude Palm Oil can be refined and fractionated into products including RBD Palm Oil, Palm Olein and Palm Stearin. Palm-based feedstocks also support downstream oleochemical manufacturing, including fatty acids, glycerine, esters and other derivatives used across food, soap, detergent, personal care and industrial markets. Mars' current Crude Palm Oil page likewise identifies CPO as an edible vegetable oil derived from oil-palm fruit and describes its food and oleochemical applications.
What is palm oil derived from? Palm oil is derived from the fleshy mesocarp of oil-palm fruit. The mesocarp is the oil-rich tissue between the outer skin and the hard shell surrounding the kernel.
What are oil palm fruitlets? Oil palm fruitlets are the individual fruits that grow together in fresh fruit bunches on the oil palm tree.
Which part of the oil palm fruit contains palm oil? Palm oil is primarily contained in the fleshy mesocarp of the fruit.
Is palm oil extracted from the seed? No. Palm oil comes from the fruit mesocarp. Oil extracted from the seed or kernel is called palm kernel oil.
What is the difference between palm oil and palm kernel oil? Palm oil comes from the fleshy mesocarp, whereas palm kernel oil comes from the kernel. Their fatty-acid profiles and physical properties differ.
How is crude palm oil extracted? Harvested fruits are sterilised, separated from bunches, digested and mechanically pressed. The crude oil is then clarified and purified before storage.
What products can be produced from crude palm oil? Crude palm oil can be refined and fractionated into RBD Palm Oil, Palm Olein and Palm Stearin and can also support various food and oleochemical applications.
What industries use palm oil? Palm oil is used in food manufacturing, bakery, frying, margarine, shortening, confectionery, soap, personal care, oleochemicals and various industrial applications.
Is palm oil a vegetable oil? Yes. Palm oil is a plant-derived vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the oil palm.
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