One fruit = two types of oil.. Palm oil and palm kernel oil

Dates are similar to dates in our Arab countries, but they are completely different in their content. They are for juicing and not for eating. The oil palm fruit is a unique fruit. Two different oils come out of it and are used in the manufacture of much of what we eat as well as many non-food industries such as detergents, personal care products and cosmetics. Both palm oil and palm kernel oil are extracted from the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), but there are significant differences between them in terms of source, fat composition, uses, production volume, extraction rate, and even prices.

The source of both palm oil and palm kernel oil

• palm oil: It is extracted from the fruit meat (mesocarp) of the oil palm fruit.
• palm kernel oil: It is extracted from the kernel or seed found inside the oil palm fruit.

The composition of fat

• palm oil: It contains about 50% saturated fat, 40% monounsaturated fat, and 10% polyunsaturated fat.
  • The main fatty acids in palm oil are palmitic acid (45%), oleic acid (40%), linoleic acid (10%) and stearic acid (5%)
• palm kernel oil: It contains about 82% saturated fat, mostly medium-chain fatty acids, the most important of which is lauric acid, which makes up about 48%. It is similar in composition to coconut oil, which contains 90% saturated fat, mostly lauric acid.

The main uses

Because of the different composition of the two oils, their uses also vary greatly.

• palm oil:
  • It is widely used in cooking oils, margarine, shortening and processed foods. It is characterized by its semi-solid state at room temperature and its stability against oxidation.
  • It is also used in non-food products such as soaps and cosmetics.
• palm kernel oil:
  • It is used in the manufacture of edible fats, such as chocolate fat, as a substitute for cocoa butter and fillers due to its high melting point.
  • It is also used in the manufacture of soaps, detergents and personal care products.

Extraction rate

• palm oil: Oil makes up about 45-50% of the weight of the meaty pulp (mesocarp) of the fruit.
• palm kernel oil: Oil accounts for about 50% of the weight of the kernel.

Their derivatives

Both oils are similar in that they can be divided to separate their solid content from the liquid so that they can be used in many products as needed and also to make solid fats without the need for hydrogenation to result in:

Palm oil:

1. Palm olein oil (liquid derivative)

2. Palm stearin oil (solid derivative)

Palm kernel oil:

1. Palm kernel oil (liquid derivative)

2. Astearin palm kernel oil (solid derivative)

Total world production for 2023

Some may think that since the two types of oil come out of the same fruit, their productivity will be similar. However, the difference is very significant in favor of palm oil.

• palm oil: Total world production was about 77.3 million metric tons.
• palm kernel oil: The volume of world production was about 8 million metric tons.

The difference in prices

Based on the mass production difference between palm oil and palm kernel oil, you can speculate that the price difference will favor palm oil and this is true. The difference is very significant as at the time of writing the article, the price difference between crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil is close to 60%.

Summary

Although both palm oil and palm kernel oil are extracted from the oil palm tree, differences in the oil source within the fruit lead to significant differences in chemical composition, uses, production volume, extraction rate, and market prices.
In the food and non-food industries, each plays a unique role, with significant differences in market value and industrial applications.

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