Lang
Soybean oil: a vegetable oil extracted from soybeans. A comprehensive reference covering specifications, fatty acids, global production, and uses.
Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Soybean oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the beans of the soybean plant Glycine max, and is the second most produced vegetable oil in the world. The oil is extracted by mechanical pressing or solvent extraction and undergoes comprehensive refining before reaching consumption, as the oil content of a single bean is between 18-22%.
The soybean plant is native to East Asia, where China cultivated it for more than five thousand years. Its cultivation moved to the Americas in the twentieth century, and the United States, Brazil, and Argentina became among the largest producers of soybeans, while China ranks first in oil production because it imports the beans and crushes them locally.
Soybean oil has a composition rich in unsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid (omega-6) reaching about 53% and linolenic acid (omega-3) reaching 7%, an omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 8:1. It also contains oleic acid at 23% and palmitic acid at 11%. The oil is notable for its high content of vitamin E and lecithin, which is extracted as a by-product of great commercial value.
According to USDA data for the 2025/26 season, global production of soybean oil reached 71.71 million tons, equivalent to 30.3% of total vegetable oil production. China leads production with 20.97 million tons, followed by the United States with 13.76 million tons, then Brazil, Argentina, and the European Union.
Soybean oil goes into the making of blended cooking oils, mayonnaise and sauces, baked goods, margarine, and infant foods. It is also used in producing biodiesel, paints and varnishes, and bioplastics. The extracted lecithin is used as an emulsifier in the chocolate, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
HS Code
1507
Oil percentage in the seed/fruit
18-22%
Oil yield/hectare
480 kg/ha
Omega-6:Omega-3
8:1
2025/26 (April 2026 estimates)
Global Production
71.71
million tons
Global Consumption
70.77
million tons
Market Share
30.3
%
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.
High-oleic soybean oil is produced from high-oleic seeds of varieties derived from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), and must contain not less than 65% oleic acid (as percentage of total fatty acids).
Oleic acid (Omega-9)
65.0-87.0
Linoleic acid (Omega-6)
1.0-16.0
Linolenic acid (Omega-3)
1.0-6.0
Palmitic acid
2.5-8.0
Stearic acid
3.2-5.0
Lauric acid
n.d.-0.1
Erucic acid
n.d.-0.4
Total saturated
Total monounsaturated
Total polyunsaturated
Iodine value
75-95
Vitamin E (mg/kg)
900-2000
Caproic acid (C6:0): n.d.
Caprylic acid (C8:0): n.d.-0.1
Capric acid (C10:0): n.d.-0.1
Lauric acid (C12:0): n.d.-0.1
Myristic acid (C14:0): n.d.-0.5
Palmitic acid (C16:0): 2.5-8.0
Palmitoleic acid (C16:1): n.d.-0.1
Margaric acid (C17:0): n.d.-0.8
Heptadecenoic acid (C17:1): n.d.-1.5
Stearic acid (C18:0): 3.2-5.0
Oleic acid / Omega-9 (C18:1): 65.0-87.0
Linoleic acid / Omega-6 (C18:2): 1.0-16.0
Linolenic acid / Omega-3 (C18:3): 1.0-6.0
Arachidic acid (C20:0): n.d.-1.0
Gadoleic acid (C20:1): n.d.-1.0
Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2): n.d.-0.1
Behenic acid (C22:0): n.d.-0.7
Erucic acid (C22:1): n.d.-0.4
Docosadienoic acid (C22:2): n.d.-0.1
Lignoceric acid (C24:0): n.d.-0.5
Nervonic acid (C24:1): n.d.
Sterols (% of total):
Cholesterol: 0.2-0.5
Brassicasterol: 0.2-0.3
Campesterol: 19.9-25.2
Stigmasterol: 17.3-23.0
Beta-sitosterol: 42.3-51.9
Delta-5-avenasterol: 1.9-3.0
Delta-7-stigmastenol: 0.6-2.5
Delta-7-avenasterol: 0.5-1.5
Other sterols: 4.5-7.1
Total sterols (mg/kg): 2300-3850
Tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg):
Alpha-tocopherol: 17-138
Beta-tocopherol: 9-106
Gamma-tocopherol: 89-1756
Delta-tocopherol: 44-570
Alpha-tocotrienol: n.d.-39
Gamma-tocotrienol: n.d.
Delta-tocotrienol: n.d.
Total tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg): 900-2000
Relative density: 0.909-0.923 (20°C)
Apparent density (g/mL): —
Refractive index: 1.462-1.468
Saponification value: 188-192
Iodine value: 75-95
Unsaponifiable matter (g/kg): ≤ 15
Melting point: —
δ¹³C ratio: —
Soya bean oil (soybean oil) is derived from soya beans (seeds of Glycine max (L.) Merr.).
Oleic acid (Omega-9)
17.0-30.0
Linoleic acid (Omega-6)
48.0-59.0
Linolenic acid (Omega-3)
4.5-11.0
Palmitic acid
8.0-13.5
Stearic acid
2.0-5.4
Lauric acid
n.d.-0.1
Erucic acid
n.d.-0.3
Total saturated
10.1-21.1
Total monounsaturated
17.0-31.1
Total polyunsaturated
52.5-70.1
Iodine value
124-139
Vitamin E (mg/kg)
600-3370
Caproic acid (C6:0): n.d.
Caprylic acid (C8:0): n.d.
Capric acid (C10:0): n.d.
Lauric acid (C12:0): n.d.-0.1
Myristic acid (C14:0): n.d.-0.2
Palmitic acid (C16:0): 8.0-13.5
Palmitoleic acid (C16:1): n.d.-0.2
Margaric acid (C17:0): n.d.-0.1
Heptadecenoic acid (C17:1): n.d.-0.1
Stearic acid (C18:0): 2.0-5.4
Oleic acid / Omega-9 (C18:1): 17-30
Linoleic acid / Omega-6 (C18:2): 48.0-59.0
Linolenic acid / Omega-3 (C18:3): 4.5-11.0
Arachidic acid (C20:0): 0.1-0.6
Gadoleic acid (C20:1): n.d.-0.5
Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2): n.d.-0.1
Behenic acid (C22:0): n.d.-0.7
Erucic acid (C22:1): n.d.-0.3
Docosadienoic acid (C22:2): n.d.
Lignoceric acid (C24:0): n.d.-0.5
Nervonic acid (C24:1): n.d.
Sterols (% of total):
Cholesterol: 0.2-1.4
Brassicasterol: n.d.-0.3
Campesterol: 15.8-24.2
Stigmasterol: 14.9-19.1
Beta-sitosterol: 47.0-60
Delta-5-avenasterol: 1.5-3.7
Delta-7-stigmastenol: 1.4-5.2
Delta-7-avenasterol: 1.0-4.6
Other sterols: n.d.-1.8
Total sterols (mg/kg): 1800-4500
Tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg):
Alpha-tocopherol: 9-352
Beta-tocopherol: n.d.-36
Gamma-tocopherol: 89-2307
Delta-tocopherol: 154-932
Alpha-tocotrienol: n.d.-69
Gamma-tocotrienol: n.d.-103
Delta-tocotrienol: n.d.
Total tocopherols and tocotrienols (mg/kg): 600-3370
Relative density: 0.919-0.925 (20°C)
Apparent density (g/mL): —
Refractive index: 1.466-1.470
Saponification value: 189-195
Iodine value: 124-139
Unsaponifiable matter (g/kg): ≤ 15
Melting point: —
δ¹³C ratio: —