Palm Oil vs Palm Kernel Oil - Two Oils from One Oil Palm Fruit

Oil palm is unusual among oil-bearing crops because a single fruit provides two distinct vegetable oils. Palm Oil is extracted from the fleshy mesocarp, while Palm Kernel Oil is obtained from the kernel inside the fruit.

Palm Oil obtained from the mesocarp can be refined and fractionated into products such as RBD Palm Oil, RBD Palm Olein and RBD Palm Stearin. These products have extensive applications in food processing, edible fats and selected industrial sectors.

Palm Oil Fruit - Mars Oleochemicals Malaysia

Oil palm fruit uniquely yields palm oil from mesocarp and palm kernel oil from kernel.

Palm Kernel Oil has a distinctly different fatty-acid composition and is particularly important as a lauric feedstock. It supports soap, detergent, fatty-acid, fatty-alcohol and surfactant manufacturing.

Commercial buyers should clearly distinguish Palm Oil from Palm Kernel Oil when requesting quotations. The product name, grade, specification, quantity, packaging and intended application should be provided so that the appropriate material can be selected.

Two distinct oils from one oil palm fruit
Broad range of downstream products
Food-industry applications
Oleochemical feedstock potential
Palm Oil fractions available
Palm Kernel Oil fractions available

Fatty Acid production potential
Fatty Alcohol production potential
Surfactant raw-material applications
Soap-manufacturing applications
Personal-care applications
Industrial applications

Multiple product streams from oil palm fruit
Broad downstream processing possibilities
Versatile food applications
Strong relevance to oleochemical manufacturing

Different melting profiles
Multiple commercial fractions
Broad industrial utility
Supports diverse manufacturing sectors

Cooking oils
Frying
Bakery
Shortening
Margarine
Confectionery
Specialty fats
Soap

Detergents
Personal care
Cosmetics
Fatty Acids
Fatty Alcohols
Surfactants
Oleochemical manufacturing
Industrial formulations

Does oil palm fruit produce two different oils? Yes. Oil palm fruit produces Palm Oil from the mesocarp and Palm Kernel Oil from the kernel.

Is oil palm unique in producing two oils? The Malaysian Palm Oil Council describes oil palm as the only oil-bearing crop that produces two different oils from the same fruit.

Where does Palm Oil come from? Palm Oil is extracted from the fleshy mesocarp of the oil palm fruit.

Where does Palm Kernel Oil come from? Palm Kernel Oil is obtained from the kernel or seed inside the oil palm fruit.

Are Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil the same? No. They originate from different parts of the same fruit and have significantly different fatty-acid compositions and properties.

What is CPO? CPO stands for Crude Palm Oil, which is obtained from the oil palm fruit's mesocarp.

What is CPKO? CPKO stands for Crude Palm Kernel Oil, which is obtained from oil palm kernels.

Why is Palm Kernel Oil important for oleochemicals? Its lauric-rich composition makes Palm Kernel Oil an important feedstock for soaps, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and surfactants.