RBD PKO · Olein · Stearin
Bulk Palm Kernel Oil
Bulk palm kernel oil, a lauric fat with a sharp melt, in RBD, olein and stearin grades for confectionery coatings, cocoa butter substitutes, creamers, whipped toppings and fillings. Supplied from 1L bottles to 20,000L flexitanks.
- Grades
- RBD PKO, olein, stearin
- Melting point
- About 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F
- Type
- Lauric oil
- Refined in
- USA
Request a quote for Palm Kernel Oil
1. Choose a grade
2. Choose a pack size
Minimum 1,000 L (≈264 gal) per quote — mix any oils and pack sizes. Nothing to pay now: we reply by email with a quotation showing the price, shipping terms and estimated arrival date.
A lauric fat for confectionery and creamers
Bulk palm kernel oil (PKO) comes from the kernel, the hard seed at the center of the oil palm fruit. It is a different oil from palm oil, which is pressed from the fruit’s fleshy outer layer. Palm kernel oil is a lauric fat, close to coconut oil in makeup, and melts sharply just below body temperature. That makes it the backbone of confectionery coatings, non-dairy creamers, whipped toppings and biscuit fillings that need to set firm and melt cleanly in the mouth.
Our palm kernel oil is refined, fractionated and packed in the United States from crude palm kernel oil produced in palm-growing regions, and supplied from 1-liter bottles to 20,000-liter flexitanks.
Palm kernel oil vs palm oil
| Palm kernel oil | Palm oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of the fruit | Kernel (seed) | Mesocarp (flesh) |
| Main fatty acid | Lauric acid, 45–55% | Palmitic acid, 39–48% |
| Iodine value | 14.1–21.0 | 50.0–55.0 |
| Melting behavior | Sharp melt, about 27–30 °C | Semi-solid, wider melting range |
| Main uses | Confectionery, creamers, fillings, toppings | Frying, margarine, shortening, bakery |
Palm kernel oil fractions
- RBD palm kernel oil. The whole refined oil, for fillings, creamers, ice cream coatings and bakery fats.
- RBD palm kernel stearin. The harder fraction, with a steeper melt. The main base for cocoa butter substitutes in compound chocolate and coatings.
- RBD palm kernel olein. The softer fraction, used in creamers, fillings, whipped toppings and fat blends.
- Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO). Unrefined oil supplied to refiners and fractionators.
Cocoa butter substitutes based on palm kernel stearin are not compatible with cocoa butter in large amounts, so they are used with low-fat cocoa powder rather than chocolate liquor. Tell us your application and we will recommend the right fraction.
Sustainability
Palm kernel oil comes from the same plantations as palm oil. If you need RSPO-certified or other sustainably certified palm kernel products, say so in your quote request and we will confirm availability and certification for your order.
How bulk palm kernel oil is priced
Palm kernel oil trades in the lauric oil market alongside coconut oil, and its price follows palm harvests. Fractions are priced separately from the whole oil. Each quote is based on grade, pack size, total volume and destination; the minimum is 1,000 liters per quote.
Technical data
Palm Kernel Oil grades and specifications
Available grades
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| RBD palm kernel oil | Refined lauric fat for confectionery, coatings, creamers and bakery. |
| RBD palm kernel olein | The softer, liquid fraction. For fillings, creamers and blends. |
| RBD palm kernel stearin | The hard fraction. For confectionery coatings and cocoa butter substitutes. |
| Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO, for refining) | Unrefined oil for refiners and further processing. Not for direct consumption. |
Each grade is priced separately. The specifications below are for RBD palm kernel oil; specifications for other grades are supplied with your quote.
Quality specification
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance (above 35 °C) | Clear, bright, free of sediment |
| Odor and taste | Bland, neutral, free of foreign odors |
| Color (Lovibond, 5¼ in. cell) | 1.5 red max. |
| Free fatty acids (as lauric acid) | 0.10% max. |
| Peroxide value (at packing) | 1.0 meq O₂/kg max. |
| Moisture and impurities | 0.10% max. |
| Slip melting point | About 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F |
| Iodine value (Wijs) | 19 max. |
| Saponification value | 230–254 mg KOH/g |
| Relative density (40 °C) | 0.899–0.914 |
| Refractive index (40 °C) | 1.448–1.452 |
| Shelf life (unopened) | Up to 24 months; 12 months for IBC and flexitank deliveries |
Typical specification for RBD palm kernel oil. Identity values follow the Codex Alimentarius standard for palm kernel oil (iodine value 14.1–21.0). Palm kernel olein (iodine value about 21 min.) and stearin (iodine value about 8 max.) specifications are supplied with your quote. Values for each lot are confirmed on the Certificate of Analysis supplied with your order.
Fatty acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of total fatty acids |
|---|---|
| Caproic acid (C6:0) | 0.8 max. |
| Caprylic acid (C8:0) | 2.4–6.2 |
| Capric acid (C10:0) | 2.6–5.0 |
| Lauric acid (C12:0) | 45.0–55.0 |
| Myristic acid (C14:0) | 14.0–18.0 |
| Palmitic acid (C16:0) | 6.5–10.0 |
| Stearic acid (C18:0) | 1.0–3.0 |
| Oleic acid (C18:1) | 12.0–19.0 |
| Linoleic acid (C18:2) | 1.0–3.5 |
Ranges for palm kernel oil from the Codex Alimentarius Standard for Named Vegetable Oils. Compared with coconut oil, palm kernel oil has less caprylic and capric acid and more oleic acid.
Source: Codex Alimentarius Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999)
Applications
What palm kernel oil is used for
Confectionery makers
Palm kernel stearin for compound chocolate, coatings and cocoa butter substitutes.
Learn more about Confectionery makersDairy alternatives
Non-dairy creamers, coffee whiteners and whipped toppings.
Learn more about Dairy alternativesDistributors and importers
Drums, IBC totes and flexitanks for repacking and blending.
Learn more about Distributors and importersPackaging
Palm Kernel Oil pack sizes
Combine palm kernel oil grades with any other oils on the same quote. Most manufacturers order 200L drums, 1,000L IBC totes or heated flexitanks.
| Pack size | US gallons | Ordered as | Liters per order unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1L Bottles | 0.26 gal | Case of 12 × 1L | 12 L |
| 5L Bottles | 1.3 gal | Case of 4 × 5L | 20 L |
| 10L Containers | 2.6 gal | Case of 2 × 10L | 20 L |
| 20L Jerrycans | 5.3 gal | Per jerrycan | 20 L |
| 200L Drums | 52.8 gal | Per drum | 200 L |
| 1,000L IBC Totes | 264 gal | Per IBC tote | 1,000 L |
| 20,000L Flexitanks | 5,283 gal | Per flexitank (20ft container) | 20,000 L |
Sourcing
From palm fruit kernels to finished oil
Palm kernels are recovered at palm oil mills close to the plantations in palm-growing regions, including Malaysia and Nigeria. After the fruit flesh is pressed for palm oil, the nuts are cracked and the kernels are dried and pressed into crude palm kernel oil.
We then refine, fractionate, test and pack the oil in the United States. Each batch is checked against specification, including free fatty acids, iodine value and melting point, before filling.
Processing
How we make palm kernel oil
Kernel recovery
After palm oil is pressed from the fruit, the nuts are cracked and the kernels separated.
Kernel pressing at origin
Dried kernels are pressed, producing crude palm kernel oil.
Refining
Degumming, bleaching and deodorizing give a pale, neutral oil.
Fractionating
Controlled cooling and filtering separate the hard stearin from the softer olein.
Testing
Each batch is tested for free fatty acids, iodine value and melting point.
Packing
Filled warm into bottles, jerrycans, drums, IBC totes or flexitanks.
Storage & handling
Keeping palm kernel oil fresh
Temperature
Store between 10 and 25 °C (50–77 °F), away from heat sources.
Light and air
Keep containers sealed and out of direct sunlight to prevent rancidity.
Solid and liquid
Lauric oils melt sharply in the mid-20s °C. They can arrive solid in cool weather and liquid in warm weather; both are normal and do not affect quality.
Melting drums and totes
Warm gently and evenly, never above about 50 °C, and avoid direct steam or flame on the container. Mix before use so the whole batch is uniform.
Shelf life
Up to 24 months unopened in original packaging. Use IBC and flexitank deliveries first-in, first-out.
Buying wholesale
Wholesale palm kernel oil supplier: how ordering works
Wholesale Cooking Oil LLC supplies palm kernel oil in bulk direct to food businesses in the United States and worldwide. Every lot is tested and packed at our US facilities and shipped with its Certificate of Analysis. Here is what to expect when you buy palm kernel oil wholesale from us.
Grades
RBD palm kernel oil, RBD palm kernel olein, RBD palm kernel stearin, Crude palm kernel oil (CPKO, for refining). Each grade is quoted separately.
Pack sizes
1L Bottles, 5L Bottles, 10L Containers, 20L Jerrycans, 200L Drums, 1,000L IBC Totes, 20,000L Flexitanks. Mix any sizes and oils on one quote.
Minimum order
1,000 L (≈264 gal) per quote, across any combination of oils and pack sizes.
Your quotation
Free and emailed to you, valid for 7 days, showing the price, any freight and other charges, the route and an estimated arrival date.
Payment
100% in advance in US dollars, by bank transfer or cryptocurrency, against the pro forma invoice in your quotation.
Dispatch and delivery
Dispatched within 24–48 hours of payment clearing. By truck across the US (usually 1–5 business days), Canada and Mexico, or by sea from five US seaports worldwide.
Documents
A Certificate of Analysis for each lot, plus the commercial invoice, packing list and transport document. Specification sheets on request.
Who we supply
Restaurants, hotels, caterers, bakeries, food manufacturers, distributors, retailers and importers.
FAQ
Palm Kernel Oil questions
What is the minimum order?
1,000 liters (about 264 US gallons) per quote, across any combination of oils, grades and pack sizes. For example, one 1,000L IBC tote, five 200L drums, or 50 cases of 4 × 5L bottles.
Is palm kernel oil the same as palm oil?
No. Palm oil is pressed from the fleshy part of the palm fruit; palm kernel oil comes from the seed inside. Palm kernel oil is a lauric fat, close to coconut oil, while palm oil is mainly palmitic and oleic acid.
What is palm kernel stearin used for?
It is the harder fraction of palm kernel oil and the main base for cocoa butter substitutes in compound chocolate and confectionery coatings.
What is the difference between palm kernel oil and coconut oil?
Both are lauric oils with a sharp melt. Palm kernel oil melts slightly higher and has more oleic acid; coconut oil has more medium-chain caprylic and capric acid.
Is your palm kernel oil RSPO certified?
Tell us in your quote request if you need RSPO-certified or other sustainably certified palm kernel products, and we will confirm availability and certification for your order.
How is the price set?
Each grade is priced separately, based on the crop, grade, pack size, total volume and delivery destination. Your quotation shows the price, any freight and other charges, the shipping terms and route, and an estimated arrival date.
Compare
Related oils
Coconut Oil
Bulk coconut oil in RBD, virgin and fractionated MCT-rich grades. A lauric oil with a sharp melt for baking, confectionery,…
View coconut oil
RBD Palm Oil
Bulk RBD palm oil, refined, bleached and deodorized into a light yellow, odorless, neutral fat that is semi-solid at room…
View rbd palm oil
Palm Olein
Bulk RBD palm olein, the liquid fraction of palm oil and one of the world’s most widely used frying oils.…
View palm olein
Red Palm Oil
Bulk red palm oil, unrefined, with its natural deep orange-red color, rich flavor, carotenes and vitamin E. The traditional cooking…
View red palm oil
Cottonseed Oil
Bulk cottonseed oil, refined and winterized, with a mild, slightly nutty finish and excellent stability in the fryer. A classic…
View cottonseed oil
Soybean Oil
Bulk soybean oil, refined, bleached and deodorized for a clean, neutral taste. A versatile, economical oil for frying, baking, dressings…
View soybean oil