Wholesale Guides
RBD Palm Olein CP10 vs CP8 vs CP6: A Bulk Buyer’s Guide
Sep
RBD palm olein is sold on a handful of numbers, and the one that trips up new buyers is the “CP” in CP10, CP8 and CP6. It stands for cloud point, the temperature at which the oil starts to turn hazy as its higher-melting fats begin to crystallise. Pick the wrong grade for your climate and a perfectly good shipment looks cloudy in the warehouse, which leads to rejected loads and arguments with customers that have nothing to do with quality.
This guide explains the grades, the specification figures that matter, packing options from jerry cans to flexitanks, and what to ask before you commit to a bulk order.
What RBD palm olein is
Crude palm oil is refined, bleached and deodorised (the “RBD”) to remove free fatty acids, colour and odour. It is then fractionated: cooled so that the harder fraction, palm stearin, crystallises and can be filtered out. The liquid fraction that remains is palm olein. Olein is the product sold as cooking and frying oil, while stearin goes mainly into margarine, shortenings and soap.
Palm olein is popular for frying because it is heat-stable, has a neutral taste and usually costs less than most soft oils. Those properties come from its fat profile, which is also why it clouds in cool weather.
CP10, CP8 and CP6 compared
| Grade | Maximum cloud point | How it is made | Typical market |
|---|---|---|---|
| CP10 | 10°C | Standard single fractionation | The most widely traded grade; hot and warm climates |
| CP8 | 8°C | Further fractionated | Temperate climates and cooler seasons |
| CP6 | 6°C | Further again (often called super olein) | Cold climates, and buyers who need the oil to stay clear on shelf |
Each step down in cloud point removes more of the solid fraction, so CP8 costs more than CP10 and CP6 more again. The right choice depends on the lowest temperature the oil will meet between the tank and the customer’s kitchen, not on the average temperature of your country. A frying oil used in a hot kitchen can often be CP10 even in a mild climate. Bottled oil sitting on an unheated retail shelf in winter is where CP8 or CP6 earns its premium.
Cloudiness below the cloud point is physical, not a defect. Gently warming the oil clears it. That said, retail customers read cloudy oil as spoiled, so choose the grade for how the product will look, not just how it will cook.
Specification figures to check
Most palm olein is traded against the standard specifications used by the Malaysian and Indonesian refining industry. For RBD palm olein the figures buyers usually see are free fatty acids of 0.1% maximum (as palmitic acid), moisture and impurities of 0.1% maximum, an iodine value of at least 56, a colour limit on the Lovibond scale, and the cloud point for the grade. Ask for the exact contract specification rather than assuming a supplier follows the standard, and ask for a certificate of analysis for the actual lot.
- Free fatty acids (FFA). Low FFA means fresher, better-refined oil and a longer frying life.
- Iodine value (IV). A higher IV means a more unsaturated, more liquid oil. It moves with the cloud point grade.
- Peroxide value. An early indicator of oxidation. Worth checking on arrival as well as at loading.
- Colour. Pale colour shows good bleaching and deodorisation.
- Contaminants. For food use in the EU, process contaminants such as 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters have legal maximum levels, so ask the refiner for test results.
Packing options
| Format | Who it suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1L to 5L PET bottles | Retail and small food service | Highest cost per litre; labelling must meet the destination market’s rules |
| 10L to 20L jerry cans, 18L tins | Restaurants, caterers, bakeries | Easy to handle; tins protect better from light |
| Drums and IBCs | Food manufacturers | Needs pumps and handling equipment |
| Flexitank in a 20ft container | Importers and refiners | Lowest cost per tonne; oil may need heating to discharge in cold weather |
| Bulk vessel | Large importers with tank storage | Parcel sizes in the thousands of tonnes |
Flexitanks are the usual step up from packed oil for importers. Confirm that the flexitank is food grade and new, whether a heating pad is fitted, and who is responsible for discharge at the destination.
Sustainability and compliance
Many buyers in Europe now need certified sustainable palm oil. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certifies supply chains under models that range from fully segregated oil to mass balance. If your customers ask for RSPO oil, specify the supply chain model in the contract and ask for the certificate numbers.
Palm oil is also covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires due diligence showing that commodities were not produced on recently deforested land. Its application dates have been postponed more than once, so check the current timetable and what documentation your supplier can provide before you import into the EU.
Before you place a bulk order
- Decide the grade from the lowest temperature the oil will meet.
- Send your specification limits, not just the grade name.
- Agree the packing format, labelling language and pallet configuration.
- Ask for the refinery name, the certificate of analysis and any sustainability certificates.
- Agree the Incoterm, the inspection point and who pays for testing if results are disputed.
If you buy other frying and cooking oils as well, compare formats and prices across the refined cooking oil range rather than quoting palm olein in isolation. Our guide to wholesale and retail pricing models explains how pack size changes the unit price.
Frequently asked questions
Is palm olein the same as palm oil?
No. Palm olein is the liquid fraction separated from refined palm oil. Palm oil itself is semi-solid at typical room temperatures in temperate countries, while olein stays liquid down to its cloud point.
Why has my palm olein gone cloudy?
It has been stored below its cloud point, so some of the fat has started to crystallise. Warming it gently makes it clear again. If it happens regularly, move to a lower cloud point grade such as CP8 or CP6.
Which grade is best for deep frying?
All three grades fry well. CP10 is the usual choice because it is the cheapest and hot kitchen conditions keep it liquid. Buy a lower cloud point only if the oil will be stored somewhere cold.
Request a quote
Averra Trades supplies refined RBD palm olein for food service, manufacturing and distribution. Tell us the grade, packing, volume and destination port and we will confirm availability and documents.