Palm stearin is the solid fraction of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) that is produced by partial crystallization at controlled temperature. It is more variable in composition than palm olein, the liquid fraction of palm oil, especially in terms of its solid fat content, and therefore has more variable physical characteristics. Palm stearin is characterized by a high proportion of palmitic acid (50-68%) and oleic acid (20-35%). Other fatty acids present in significant amounts are: linoleic acid (5-9%), stearic acid (4-6%) and myristic acid (1-2%). Its CAS number: 91079-14-0, EC number: 293-400-1. Palm stearin is the harder fraction of palm oil, containing a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids with a higher melting point of 48–50^oC. A much harder stearin containing 79% palmitic acid and a tripalmitoylglycerol content of 60% is also available.
Palm stearin has a wide range of composition, physical properties, solid fat content, and iodine values. These variations result in different types of palm stearin. Palm stearin can provide the required solids in blends with unsaturated vegetable oils. It is a natural source of solid fat.

High-Melting Palm Oil Fractions: There are three types of palm stearins, (soft, hard, and very hard) available on the market. Soft palm stearins (melting point of 40–46^oC) are obtained through single fractionation of crude palm oil or double fractionation of palm olein. Hard palm stearins (melting point of 52–56^oC) are obtained through single fractionation of crude palm oil. The very hard palm stearins (melting point of 59–62^oC) possess the unique solid fat content (above 80% between the temperature range of 25–40^oC).

India imports around 400,000 tons of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) per month, from Malaysia and Indonesia. (It also imports 400,000 tons of palmolein per month from Malaysia and Indonesia. CPO is also refined in Malaysia and Indonesia and Palm Stearin is separated from it). In India, Palm Stearin is separated from CPO, and it can be around 40,000 tons per month or 1,200 tons per day. Almost same quantity (1,200 tons per day) can be imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. About 40 BioDiesel plants of 30 tons per day, can be set up based on this locally available raw material and many more based on imported palm stearin.

There are many large Palm Oil Refiners in India, who separate Palm Stearin from Crude Palm Oil. The remaining fraction, Palm Olein is then further refined to sell as Edible Palm Oil. Many of them are situated near ports which can handle bulk edible oil ships. Most of these are around Kandla / Mundra Ports in Gujrath, Kakinada Port in Andhra Pradesh and Haldia Port in West Bengal (near Kolkata). Most of these refiners are large units and can set up large viable BioDiesel plants in their own premises. They can use existing utilities like steam, cooling water, storage tanks, material handling systems etc. This ensures a continuous supply of raw material in molten form. Since Palm Stearin has very low Free Fatty Acid content, it is the best raw material for manufacture of BioDiesel. Also these port can handle import of Methanol in Ship Loads.

Customs or Import Duty on Palm Stearine under HS Code 38231900

1. XLNT BiofuelSDN BHD, Suite No. 1-B, Level-1, Tower B, Avenue 10, Vertical Corporate Toer, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur, 59200, Malaysia. Mr. Ajeevae, Tel:603 2771 8155, M: 6012 822 5053, asn@xbm.dk

2. VVF Singapore P.lTd., 133, Cecil Street, #09-01A Keck Seng Tower, Singapore, 069535. Tel: 65 6224 8871, S. Harihar Subramanian, M; 65 9125 3043, s.hari@vvfltd.com

Used Cooking OilRice Bran Oil