UCO is not a commodity with one price and one specification. Collection density, licensing, pretreatment and export rules differ by country, and those differences decide FFA, MIU and the documentation you can actually obtain.
| Malaysia | Collection: licensed collectors serving restaurants, hotels and food factories; consolidation through regional pretreatment plants. Typical export spec: FFA ≤ 5%, moisture & impurities ≤ 2%, filtered. Main ports: Port Klang, Pasir Gudang, Penang. |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | Collection: fragmented collector base; larger exporters aggregate through Belawan, Tanjung Priok and Surabaya. Typical export spec: FFA 3–8%, MIU ≤ 2–3%, often pre-treated for HVO. Main ports: Belawan, Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak. |
| China | Collection: municipal and commercial collection with large inland consolidation; export licensing and inspection apply. Typical export spec: FFA ≤ 5%, water ≤ 1%, MIU per contract. Main ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Xiamen. |
| India | Collection: restaurant and temple networks; domestic biodiesel demand competes with export. Typical export spec: FFA 2–7%, MIU ≤ 2%, variable colour. Main ports: Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Mundra. |
| UAE | Collection: hotel and catering collection with centralized pretreatment; strong re-export hub. Typical export spec: FFA ≤ 3%, moisture ≤ 1%, filtered. Main ports: Jebel Ali, Khalifa. |
| Brazil | Collection: food-service chains and renderers; soybean oil economics set the substitution ceiling. Typical export spec: FFA ≤ 4%, MIU ≤ 2%. Main ports: Santos, Paranaguá. |
Specifications above are typical market ranges, not a guarantee. Contract values are confirmed per parcel after sampling.
A supplier list is easy to produce. A supplier that can repeat the same spec for twelve months is not. We screen on six points before a first cargo.
Every supplier must be able to show FFA, moisture, insoluble impurities, iodine value and colour from a representative sample, not from a previous lot. We compare their in-house results with an independent lab on the first three parcels.
Collection points must be documented well enough to support an ISCC audit: origin, volume, date, collector identity and transfer records. A supplier that cannot produce these will fail at the first audit, however good the oil is.
We track the standard deviation of FFA and MIU across lots. A supplier with a slightly higher average but tight variance is usually worth more than one with a good average and wild swings.
References from two existing buyers, a clear payment history, and willingness to accept pre-shipment inspection. We do not place a first cargo on a promise of “consistent quality”.
The same country can produce several grades. Match the specification to the process, not to the origin.
| End use | FFA | MIU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVO / SAF (HEFA) | ≤ 5% | ≤ 2% | Low phosphorus and metals preferred; pretreatment critical |
| Biodiesel (FAME) | ≤ 7% | ≤ 2% | Higher FFA tolerable with acid esterification |
| Oleochemical | ≤ 3% | ≤ 1% | Colour and odour matter |
A complete parcel should travel with: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, ISCC sustainability declaration (where applicable), third-party inspection report, and a certificate of analysis from a representative sample. Missing chain-of-custody documents cannot be fixed after discharge.
Yes, subject to availability and the grade you need. We will tell you which origins are realistic for your specification and timing rather than promise every origin.
We aggregate smaller collectors through vetted consolidation partners. The chain of custody must remain complete at every transfer.
Certification attaches to the supply chain, not to the oil. We arrange ISCC-compliant chains where the collection network supports it; see the ISCC guide.
Tell us the grade, volume and destination. We will come back with the origins that can actually meet it.
