Why Palm Oil Specs Matter
The Certificate of Analysis (COA) attached to every palm oil shipment contains 6-8 numerical specifications. Understanding these numbers protects you from quality fraud, tells you whether the oil is fresh, and determines whether the product meets your customers' expectations.
1. FFA (Free Fatty Acids)
What it measures: The percentage of fatty acids that have separated from the triglyceride molecule — an indicator of how much the oil has degraded since production.
Acceptable ranges: - Crude Palm Oil (CPO): 3-5% max - RBD Palm Oil: 0.1% max (ideally below 0.08%) - RBD Palm Olein: 0.1% max
What it tells you: Low FFA = fresh, well-refined oil. High FFA = oxidation has begun, quality declining.
2. Iodine Value (IV)
What it measures: The degree of unsaturation in the oil — expressed as grams of iodine absorbed per 100g of oil.
Typical ranges: - RBD Palm Oil: 50-55 - RBD Palm Olein: 56-65 (more liquid at room temp) - RBD Palm Stearin: 33-45 (solid at room temp)
What it tells you: The IV determines whether palm oil is more "solid" or "liquid" at room temperature. Lower IV = more saturated = more solid. Buyers specify IV when they need a specific consistency.
3. Peroxide Value (PV)
What it measures: The level of primary oxidation products (peroxides) in the oil.
Acceptable ranges: - Fresh RBD oil: < 1.0 meq O2/kg - Acceptable: < 2.0 meq O2/kg - Rejected: > 5.0 meq O2/kg
What it tells you: Low PV = fresh oil. High PV = oxidation underway, oil will go rancid soon.
4. Moisture & Impurities (M&I)
What it measures: Water content + insoluble matter.
Acceptable ranges: - CPO: 0.25% max (combined) - RBD: 0.1% max
What it tells you: High moisture accelerates rancidity and can indicate poor refining. Impurities can clog filters in downstream processing.
5. Color
Measured in: Lovibond units (red + yellow scale), 1-inch or 5.25-inch cells.
Acceptable ranges: - RBD Palm Oil: 3R/30Y max (1-inch cell) or 3.5R max (5.25-inch) - RBD Palm Olein: 3R max
What it tells you: Lower red value = better refining. Deep red or brown color indicates inadequate bleaching.
6. Melting Point (Slip Point)
What it measures: Temperature at which the solid oil begins to melt.
Typical values: - RBD Palm Oil: 33-39°C - RBD Palm Olein: 18-23°C - RBD Palm Stearin: 44-56°C
What it tells you: Determines handling and application suitability. Olein is easier to pump in cool climates; stearin requires heated storage.
7. Saponification Value
Typical: 195-205 (mg KOH per g of oil)
What it tells you: The average molecular weight of fatty acids. Rarely a concern for food-grade oils but important for soap manufacturers.
8. Unsaponifiable Matter
Typical: < 1.2% for RBD
What it tells you: Non-triglyceride content like sterols, vitamins, pigments. Too high = poor refining.
How to Use This Knowledge
When you receive a COA, check every spec against the PI specification. If any value is outside the contracted range, you have grounds to reject the shipment or negotiate a price adjustment. Keep samples from every shipment for 6 months as evidence in case of later disputes.
Need a Sample COA?
Jit Aree Vegetable Oil provides a full Certificate of Analysis with every shipment, plus pre-shipment samples for any buyer. Request a sample and we'll include a representative COA so you can see exactly what you're buying.
Ready to Order Palm Oil from Thailand?
Now that you understand the spec sheet, see full grade options and current pricing on our product pages:
- Palm FFA 70% export from Thailand (PFAD & RBD Palm Oil) — full specs, pricing from $550/MT FOB Bangkok, Halal certified
- Palm FFA 70% (PFAD) Export Guide — loading temperature, HS codes, and import process for PFAD
- How to import vegetable oil from Thailand — step-by-step import guide