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Rapeseed (canola) oil: a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of Brassica species. A comprehensive reference covering specifications, fatty acids, global production, and uses.
Brassica napus / B. rapa / B. juncea / B. tournefortii
Rapeseed oil, known commercially as "canola oil," is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of species of the genus Brassica, most importantly Brassica napus and B. rapa. The name "canola" derives from the English phrase "Canadian Oil Low Acid" and refers to traditionally bred varieties (by selective hybridization) that contain a low proportion of the health-harmful erucic acid. The oil content of the seed is 40-45%, one of the highest among seed oils.
Rapeseed cultivation dates back thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and the oil was historically used as lamp fuel. In the 1950s, Canadian scientists developed low-erucic varieties fit for human consumption, bringing about a major shift in the industry. Today Canada and the European Union lead the list of producers, and the Canadian varieties are known as "canola," while the term "rapeseed oil" is reserved for the other traditional varieties.
Canola oil is one of the most balanced vegetable oils in fatty composition: it contains 61% oleic acid (omega-9), 21% linoleic acid (omega-6), and 11% linolenic acid (omega-3), with an omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 2:1, an ideal health ratio. It also has the lowest saturated fat content among common vegetable oils (just 7%).
According to USDA data for the 2025/26 season, global production reached 35.85 million tons, or 15.2% of the vegetable oil market. The European Union leads with 10.37 million tons, followed by China with 7.72 million tons, then Canada, India, and Japan.
Canola oil is used in home cooking, frying, salads, and baked goods, and in the making of margarine and mayonnaise. Industrially, it goes into large-scale biofuel production in the European Union, and into the making of industrial oils and biodegradable lubricants.
HS Code
1514
Oil percentage in the seed/fruit
40-45%
Oil yield/hectare
770 kg/ha
Omega-6:Omega-3
2:1
2025/26 (April 2026 estimates)
Global Production
35.85
million tons
Global Consumption
35.38
million tons
Market Share
15.2
%
Source: USDA-FAS PSD Online
This oil conforms to the Codex Alimentarius standard for named vegetable oils, CXS 210-1999, which specifies fatty acid composition, and quality and authenticity criteria. The following cards present the specification for each variety of this oil.
Rapeseed oil (turnip rape oil; colza oil; ravison oil; sarson oil; toria oil) is produced from seeds of Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa L., Brassica juncea L. and Brassica tournefortii Gouan species.
Oleic acid (Omega-9)
8.0-60.0
Linoleic acid (Omega-6)
11.0-23.0
Linolenic acid (Omega-3)
5.0-13.0
Palmitic acid
1.5-6.0
Stearic acid
0.5-3.1
Lauric acid
n.d.
Erucic acid
>2.0-60.0
Total saturated
Total monounsaturated
Total polyunsaturated
Iodine value
94-120
Vitamin E (mg/kg)
not listed
Caproic acid (C6:0): n.d.
Caprylic acid (C8:0): n.d.
Capric acid (C10:0): n.d.
Lauric acid (C12:0): n.d.
Myristic acid (C14:0): n.d.-0.2
Palmitic acid (C16:0): 1.5-6.0
Palmitoleic acid (C16:1): n.d.-3.0
Margaric acid (C17:0): n.d.-0.1
Heptadecenoic acid (C17:1): n.d.-0.1
Stearic acid (C18:0): 0.5-3.1
Oleic acid / Omega-9 (C18:1): 8.0-60.0
Linoleic acid / Omega-6 (C18:2): 11.0-23.0
Linolenic acid / Omega-3 (C18:3): 5.0-13.0
Arachidic acid (C20:0): n.d.-3.0
Gadoleic acid (C20:1): 3.0-15.0
Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2): n.d.-1.0
Behenic acid (C22:0): n.d.-2.0
Erucic acid (C22:1): >2.0-60.0
Docosadienoic acid (C22:2): n.d.-2.0
Lignoceric acid (C24:0): n.d.-2.0
Nervonic acid (C24:1): n.d.-3.0
Sterols (% of total):
Cholesterol: n.d.-1.3
Brassicasterol: 5.0-13.0
Campesterol: 24.7-38.6
Stigmasterol: 0.2-1.0
Beta-sitosterol: 45.1-57.9
Delta-5-avenasterol: 2.5-6.6
Delta-7-stigmastenol: n.d.-1.3
Delta-7-avenasterol: n.d.-0.8
Other sterols: n.d.-4.2
Total sterols (mg/kg): 4500-11300
Tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg):
Alpha-tocopherol: 100-386
Beta-tocopherol: n.d.-140
Gamma-tocopherol: 189-753
Delta-tocopherol: n.d.-22
Alpha-tocotrienol: n.d.
Gamma-tocotrienol: n.d.
Delta-tocotrienol: n.d.
Total tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg): 430-2680
Relative density: 0.910-0.920 (20°C)
Apparent density (g/mL): —
Refractive index: 1.465-1.469
Saponification value: 168-181
Iodine value: 94-120
Unsaponifiable matter (g/kg): ≤ 20
Melting point: —
δ¹³C ratio: —
Rapeseed oil – low-erucic acid (low-erucic acid turnip rape oil; low-erucic acid colza oil; canola oil) is produced from low-erucic acid oil-bearing seeds of varieties derived from the Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa L. and Brassica juncea L. species, and must not contain more than 2 percent erucic acid (as percentage of total fatty acids).
Oleic acid (Omega-9)
51.0-70.0
Linoleic acid (Omega-6)
15.0-30.0
Linolenic acid (Omega-3)
5.0-14.0
Palmitic acid
2.5-7.0
Stearic acid
0.8-3.0
Lauric acid
n.d.
Erucic acid
n.d.-2.0
Total saturated
3.5-12.6
Total monounsaturated
51.1-77.6
Total polyunsaturated
20.0-44.2
Iodine value
105-126
Vitamin E (mg/kg)
430-2680
Caproic acid (C6:0): n.d.
Caprylic acid (C8:0): n.d.
Capric acid (C10:0): n.d.
Lauric acid (C12:0): n.d.
Myristic acid (C14:0): n.d.-0.2
Palmitic acid (C16:0): 2.5-7.0
Palmitoleic acid (C16:1): n.d.-0.6
Margaric acid (C17:0): n.d.-0.3
Heptadecenoic acid (C17:1): n.d.-0.3
Stearic acid (C18:0): 0.8-3.0
Oleic acid / Omega-9 (C18:1): 51.0-70.0
Linoleic acid / Omega-6 (C18:2): 15.0-30.0
Linolenic acid / Omega-3 (C18:3): 5.0-14.0
Arachidic acid (C20:0): 0.2-1.2
Gadoleic acid (C20:1): 0.1-4.3
Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2): n.d.-0.1
Behenic acid (C22:0): n.d.-0.6
Erucic acid (C22:1): n.d.-2.0
Docosadienoic acid (C22:2): n.d.-0.1
Lignoceric acid (C24:0): n.d.-0.3
Nervonic acid (C24:1): n.d.-0.4
Sterols (% of total):
Cholesterol: n.d.-1.3
Brassicasterol: 5.0-13.0
Campesterol: 24.7-38.6
Stigmasterol: 0.2-1.0
Beta-sitosterol: 45.1-57.9
Delta-5-avenasterol: 2.5-6.6
Delta-7-stigmastenol: n.d.-1.3
Delta-7-avenasterol: n.d.-0.8
Other sterols: n.d.-4.2
Total sterols (mg/kg): 4500-11300
Tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg):
Alpha-tocopherol: 100-386
Beta-tocopherol: n.d.-140
Gamma-tocopherol: 189-753
Delta-tocopherol: n.d.-22
Alpha-tocotrienol: n.d.
Gamma-tocotrienol: n.d.
Delta-tocotrienol: n.d.
Total tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg): 430-2680
Relative density: 0.914-0.920 (20°C)
Apparent density (g/mL): —
Refractive index: 1.465-1.467
Saponification value: 182-193
Iodine value: 105-126
Unsaponifiable matter (g/kg): ≤ 20
Melting point: —
δ¹³C ratio: —