What Is Palm FFA 70% (PFAD)?
Palm FFA 70% refers to Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) — a byproduct of the physical refining process used to produce RBD (Refined, Bleached, Deodorized) Palm Oil. During deodorization, volatile fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols are steam-distilled off the crude palm oil, resulting in PFAD with 70%+ free fatty acid (FFA) content.
Unlike refined palm oil (FFA ≤0.1%), PFAD has very high acidity — which makes it unsuitable for direct food use but ideal for industrial applications that require free fatty acids as a raw material.
Palm FFA 70% Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Free Fatty Acid (FFA) | ≥70% (expressed as palmitic acid) |
| Moisture & Impurities | ≤1.0% |
| Iodine Value | 45–55 |
| Saponification Value | 195–205 mg KOH/g |
| Unsaponifiable Matter | ≤3.0% |
| Free Tocopherols | 2–5% (varies by season/mill) |
| Appearance | Dark amber viscous liquid |
PFAD fatty acid profile is dominated by palmitic acid (C16:0, ~45%) and oleic acid (C18:1, ~35%), with stearic and linoleic making up the remainder — ideal for soap and oleochemical applications.
What Is Palm FFA 70% Used For?
1. Soap Manufacturing — PFAD is one of the most common feedstocks for soap noodle and laundry soap production. Its high palmitic acid content produces hard bars with good lather. Most African and Asian soap manufacturers use PFAD as a cost-effective alternative to pure stearic or palmitic acid.
2. Oleochemical Production — PFAD is hydrolyzed, split, and fractionated to produce individual fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, stearic) for detergent, cosmetic, and lubricant manufacturing.
3. Animal Feed — Ruminant livestock readily utilize PFAD's energy-dense fatty acids. Feed manufacturers add PFAD as an energy supplement (approximately 8,000 kcal/kg energy content).
4. Biodiesel Feedstock — PFAD can be esterified to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME biodiesel). This is a lower-cost feedstock route compared to refined oil.
5. Industrial Lubricants — PFAD-derived fatty acids are used in metalworking fluids, release agents, and specialty lubricants.
Palm FFA 70% Export Pricing (FOB Bangkok, 2026)
| Grade | FOB Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PFAD (FFA ≥70%) — Drums | $550–650/MT | 200L steel drums, standard export |
| PFAD (FFA ≥70%) — Flexitank | $530–620/MT | 20,000L per 20ft container, most economical |
| PFAD (FFA ≥70%) — Bulk tanker | $500–580/MT | 5,000+ MT minimum |
PFAD prices are linked to CPO (Crude Palm Oil) prices and typically trade at a 15-25% discount to RBD Palm Oil. Prices fluctuate with Malaysian CPO futures (Bursa Malaysia, contract: FCPO).
Packaging and Container Loading
- Flexitank (preferred): 20,000 liters per 20ft container (~18-19 MT net). Lowest cost per MT. Suitable for large industrial buyers.
- 200L steel drums: ~80 drums per 20ft container (~15-16 MT net). Standard for smaller buyers and markets with limited bulk handling infrastructure.
- ISO tank container: 24,000 liters (~21 MT). For regular high-volume customers.
PFAD must be loaded at elevated temperature (45-55°C) as it solidifies below 40°C. Flexitanks and ISO tanks require heating coils or heated storage at the destination.
Required Export Documents for PFAD
Every PFAD export from Thailand includes: - Certificate of Analysis (COA) with full fatty acid profile - Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS) - Certificate of Origin (CO) - Phytosanitary Certificate (if required by destination) - Halal Certificate (available on request) - SGS pre-shipment inspection report (on request)
How to Import Palm FFA 70% from Thailand
- Request a quotation — specify your destination port, required volume, and preferred packaging (flexitank or drums)
- Review COA and MSDS — verify FFA, moisture, IV, and fatty acid profile meet your specifications
- Agree on Incoterms — FOB Bangkok or CIF to destination port
- Payment terms — T/T 30% deposit + 70% before loading, or L/C at sight
- Book freight — your freight forwarder or ours arranges container from Bangkok/Laem Chabang
- Receive and verify — test FFA, moisture on arrival
Why Buy PFAD from Thailand?
Thailand is the world's third-largest palm oil producer and a major exporter of PFAD. Thai PFAD benefits from: - Proximity to ASEAN, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African markets - Consistent supply year-round from established palm oil refineries - Competitive pricing linked to Bursa Malaysia CPO futures - Full export documentation including Halal certification - Reliable shipping from Bangkok/Laem Chabang with established container lines
Jit Aree Vegetable Oil exports PFAD (Palm FFA 70%) in flexitank and drums. Request a quote — we respond within 24 hours with FOB pricing and a sample COA.