Guide
5 min read · AuriOliya
Refined vs. crude sunflower oil: what’s the difference?
Crude and refined sunflower oil serve very different buyers. Understanding the difference helps you order the right grade.
What is crude sunflower oil?
Crude sunflower oil (CSFO) is the unrefined oil straight from pressing and extraction. It still contains free fatty acids, phosphatides, waxes and colour bodies, and is bought mainly by refineries and industrial processors for further processing.
What is refined sunflower oil?
Refined oil has been neutralised, bleached, winterised and deodorised to remove those impurities, producing a clear, neutral, stable oil ready for retail, food service and food manufacturing.
Which should you buy?
If you operate a refinery or need feedstock, crude is more economical. If you sell to retail or manufacture food, refined is the finished product you need. We supply both.
| Attribute | Crude | Refined |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Unrefined | Fully refined (RBDW) |
| Free fatty acid | ≤ 2.0% | ≤ 0.10% |
| Appearance | Natural, cloudy | Clear, bright |
| Main buyers | Refineries, processors | Retail, food mfg |
| Packaging | Flexitank, tanker | PET to flexitank |
Need crude or refined?
We supply both grades — tell us your application for a quote.
Independent standards and guidance relevant to this page:
Codex standard for named vegetable oils