Soil to Door Commodity Sourcing — We manage the entire supply chain

Direct from Nigeria & Ghana

Palm Kernel Oil

High-lauric acid oil for soap manufacturing, cosmetics, and oleochemicals. The other palm oil — different product, different applications.

Request Quote

Overview

Palm kernel oil (PKO) is extracted from the seed inside the oil palm fruit, producing an oil with a fundamentally different composition from palm oil. Its high lauric acid content (48-52%) makes it chemically similar to coconut oil and uniquely valuable for soap manufacturing, where lauric acid provides the lathering properties consumers expect.

Nigeria and Ghana are significant producers of palm kernel oil, with Nigeria alone producing over 500,000 metric tons of palm kernel annually. The oil serves as a critical raw material for the soap and detergent industry, cosmetic formulations, food processing (as a cocoa butter substitute), and oleochemical production for industrial fatty acids and alcohols.

Origin Direct sources palm kernel oil from established crushing facilities across Nigeria and Ghana, offering crude and RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) grades. Our direct procurement from crushing mills eliminates layers of trading intermediaries, providing competitive pricing for soap manufacturers, oleochemical producers, and food processors.

Key Specifications

Parameter Specification
Lauric Acid48 – 52%
Myristic Acid14 – 18%
FFA (as lauric)< 5% (crude), < 0.1% (RBD)
Iodine Value14 – 23
Melting Point25 – 30°C
GradesCrude PKO, RBD PKO
MOQ1 FCL (20 MT in flexi-tank)
HS Code1513.29

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between palm oil and palm kernel oil?
Palm oil comes from the fruit's flesh (mesocarp) and is reddish-orange due to high beta-carotene. Palm kernel oil is extracted from the seed (kernel) inside the fruit and is pale yellow with a different fatty acid profile. Palm kernel oil is high in lauric acid (48-52%), making it chemically similar to coconut oil and ideal for soap, detergent, and cosmetic manufacturing. They are distinct products with different applications and pricing.
What are the main commercial uses of palm kernel oil?
Palm kernel oil's high lauric acid content (48-52%) makes it valuable for: soap and detergent manufacturing (the largest use, where lauric acid provides excellent lathering), cosmetic formulations (skin creams, hair conditioners), food processing (cocoa butter substitute, non-dairy creamers, margarine), and oleochemical production (fatty acids, fatty alcohols for industrial use). The EU and US import significant volumes for their soap and oleochemical industries.
Can you supply RSPO-certified palm kernel oil?
We are working toward RSPO certification for our palm kernel oil supply chain. Currently, we supply conventional palm kernel oil with full traceability to the crushing facility. For buyers requiring certified sustainable palm, we can source RSPO-certified product from specific mills at a premium. All shipments include Certificate of Analysis with FFA, moisture, impurities, and iodine value parameters.

Request a Quote

Fill in your requirements and we'll get back to you with competitive pricing.

We respond within 2 hours during business days