Buyer's guide
Common grades and specifications
- Crude palm oil (CPO)
- RBD palm oil, RBD palm olein (by cloud point / IV), RBD palm stearin
- Palm kernel oil
- Key specs: free fatty acids (FFA), moisture & impurities, iodine value (IV), DOBI (for CPO), colour
- Sustainability certification: RSPO (identity preserved, segregated or mass balance), MSPO/ISPO
Typical packaging
Bulk vessel tanks, flexitanks in 20 ft containers, ISO tanks, drums, or jerrycans and bottles for retail olein.
Typical minimum order
One flexitank (roughly 20 t) is a common minimum for containerised oil; bulk vessel parcels are larger.
HS code (4-digit headings)
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 1511 | Palm oil and its fractions |
| 1513 | Palm kernel and coconut oil |
Guidance only. The exact 6- to 10-digit code depends on the product and the importing country's tariff. Confirm with your customs broker.
Incoterms tips
For bulk vessel cargo, FOB, CFR and CIF are the usual Incoterms® 2020 rules (they are for sea and inland waterway only). Name the exact load or discharge port, and agree who appoints the inspection company at loading. For flexitank shipments, FCA or CIP is usually cleaner.
Quality documents to request
- COA per lot
- Certificate of origin
- Source statement for refining aids
- RSPO or equivalent certificate if specified
- Previous-cargo declaration for bulk tanks (food-grade cargoes only)
- Independent quality and quantity surveys
Sourcing notes
Palm oil is plant-based. Ask for a source statement for refining aids and previous-cargo history for tanks.
Price benchmark
| Benchmark | Price | m/m |
|---|---|---|
| Palm oil | 1,120 $/mt | -5.1% |
Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), Updated on November 03, 2026. Nominal US dollars, CC BY 4.0. Benchmarks are reference prices at named origins/ports, not offers on OfferBulk.