What Is CPO (Crude Palm Oil)? Definition, Composition, and Quality Standards
- CPO (crude palm oil) is oil obtained by mechanical extraction from oil palm fruit mesocarp and has not undergone refining.[1]
- SNI 2901:2021 divides CPO into premium and regular grades. Premium requires maximum FFA 3.0% and minimum DOBI 2.5; regular requires maximum FFA 5.0% and minimum DOBI 2.0.[1]
- CPO contains 95–99% triacylglycerols, with dominant fatty acids palmitate 44%, oleate 39%, linoleate 11%, stearate 5%, and myristate 1%.[2]
- CPO is rich in carotenoids (500–4000 ppm) and tocotrienols (500–800 µg/g), a source of vitamin A and natural antioxidants.[2]
- CPO HS Code is 1511.10; typical trade specification is maximum FFA 5.0% and minimum DOBI 2.5.[3]
CPO is the main product of the oil palm industry from mechanical extraction of fresh fruit bunches. Quality is set by free fatty acid, moisture, impurities, and DOBI under SNI 2901:2021.
Table of contents
What Is CPO?
Crude palm oil (CPO) is oil obtained by mechanical extraction from the mesocarp of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis and has not been refined.[1]
CPO is produced at palm oil mills (PKS) from fresh fruit bunches (FFB) through sterilization, stripping, digestion, pressing, clarification, and vacuum drying. The oil is red-orange because of high carotenoid content.[2]
As a traded commodity, CPO has HS Code 1511.10 and is traded in bulk or packaged form. Typical trade specifications list maximum FFA 5.0% and minimum DOBI 2.5.[3]
Composition and Characteristics
CPO is a complex chemical mixture with 95–99% triacylglycerols (TAG) plus diacylglycerols (DAG), monoacylglycerols (MAG), and free fatty acids. The remaining 1–5% consists of carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, sterols, phosphatides, and aliphatic alcohols.[2]
CPO fatty acid composition is balanced between saturated and unsaturated, with palmitic acid 44%, oleic acid 39%, linoleic acid 11%, stearic acid 5%, and myristic acid 1%.[2]
| Fatty acid | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Palmitate (C16:0) | 44 |
| Oleate (C18:1) | 39 |
| Linoleate (C18:2) | 11 |
| Stearate (C18:0) | 5 |
| Myristate (C14:0) | 1 |
| Component | Content |
|---|---|
| Total carotenoids | 500–4000 ppm |
| α-carotene | Approximately 37% of carotenoids |
| β-carotene | Approximately 50% of carotenoids |
| Tocotrienols | 500–800 µg/g |
| Free fatty acids | 3–4% |
SNI 2901:2021 Quality Standard
SNI 2901:2021 sets CPO quality requirements covering definition, raw materials, quality criteria, sampling, test methods, and packaging and labeling. The standard divides CPO into premium and regular grades.[1]
| Parameter | Premium | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Free fatty acids (as palmitic acid, % max.) | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Moisture and impurities (% max.) | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| DOBI (min.) | 2.5 | 2.0 |
Mill Production Process
A palm oil mill generally comprises five basic operations: FFB sterilization, fruit stripping, digestion, oil extraction, and oil clarification.[2]
Sterilization is done at 140 °C and 40 psig for 70–90 minutes to inactivate lipolytic enzymes and soften the fruit. Pressing pressure is below 50 bar so kernels do not crack and palm kernel oil contamination is avoided.[2]
After pressing, extract liquor is separated from solids on a vibrating screen, then clarified by gravity and centrifugation. CPO is then vacuum-dried before storage or shipment to refineries.[2]
Applications
CPO is the main feedstock for cooking oil, oleochemical, biodiesel, and cosmetic industries. Each sector has different quality requirements depending on process sensitivity to FFA, DOBI, and iodine value. CPO quality surveys in the supply chain show variation affected by transport and storage.[4][5]
The cooking oil industry needs CPO with good DOBI for easy bleaching, while the biodiesel industry is more tolerant of feedstock quality. The oleochemical industry uses CPO as feedstock for fatty acids and glycerin.[4]
Summary
CPO is unrefined palm oil from mechanical mesocarp extraction. SNI 2901:2021 defines two quality grades with different limits for FFA, moisture, impurities, and DOBI. CPO is rich in carotenoids and tocotrienols and is the main feedstock for cooking oil, oleochemicals, and biodiesel.
References
- National Standardization Agency. SNI 2901:2021 — Minyak Kelapa Sawit Mentah (Crude Palm Oil). https://id.scribd.com/document/713530889/SNI-2901-2021-unlocked-1
- OCL Journal. Food quality assurance of crude palm oil: a review on toxic ester feedstock. https://www.ocl-journal.org/articles/ocl/full_html/2021/01/ocl200043/ocl200043.html
- indonesia-palm.com. Crude Palm Oil (CPO) — product specification sheet. https://indonesia-palm.com/downloads/spec-crude-palm-oil.en.pdf
- PMC/NIH. Palm oil: a review on nutritional composition, processing, and health implications. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13183657/
- Menara Perkebunan (2025). Factors affecting crude palm oil quality across the supply chain. https://mp.iribb.org/index.php/mpjurnal/article/download/646/519