Overview
What Is Rapeseed Oil?
Rapeseed oil (also known as canola oil in North America) is pressed from the seeds of Brassica napus and is Europe's most important domestically-produced biofuel feedstock. Refined or crude, it offers a stable, high-oleic acid lipid profile that makes it well suited to FAME biodiesel (rapeseed methyl ester, RME), HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) and co-processing in petroleum refineries.
Rapeseed oil is a first-generation (food crop) feedstock under EU RED III — it qualifies for biofuel mandates but does not receive double-counting, and is subject to the 7% food/feed crop cap in transport energy. For buyers seeking uncapped, double-counted supply, waste feedstocks such as UCO or SBEO are more appropriate.
SUAT Fuels trades ISCC-certified rapeseed oil directly from major EU producing regions including Germany, France and Poland, providing full RED III compliance documentation.
Key Advantages
Why Rapeseed Oil for Renewable Fuels?
EU Origin & Stable Supply
Germany, France and Poland are among Europe's largest rapeseed producers. EU-origin supply avoids geopolitical risk and provides the traceability increasingly required by EU biofuel mandates.
Up to 65% GHG Savings
RED III default value for rapeseed oil: up to 65% GHG reduction vs fossil diesel. HVO from rapeseed achieves minimum 50% under RED III Article 29 requirements.
ISCC EU Certified
Full ISCC EU chain-of-custody certification. RED III and REDcert compliant supply available. Deforestation-risk documentation (EUDR) included for applicable origins.
Liquid, Established Market
Rapeseed oil has the deepest and most liquid biofuel feedstock market in Europe. Benchmark pricing via MATIF futures. Large volume supply with flexible delivery terms.
Technical Data
Quality Specifications
Standard quality parameters for Rapeseed Oil as supplied by SUAT Fuels. Contact us for batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA).
| Parameter | Typical Value | Limit | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Fatty Acids (FFA — RBD) | 0.1–0.3% | max 0.5% | AOCS Ca 5a-40 |
| Phosphorus | <5 ppm | max 5 ppm | EN 14107 |
| Sulfur | <10 ppm | max 10 ppm | EN ISO 20846 |
| Moisture | <0.1% | max 0.1% | EN ISO 12937 |
| Iodine Value | 94–120 g I₂/100g | — | AOCS Cd 1d-92 |
| Density at 15°C | 0.910–0.920 kg/L | — | EN ISO 3675 |
| Oleic Acid (C18:1) | 55–65% | — | GC (EN ISO 12966) |
| Flash Point | >300°C | — | ISO 2592 |
| Saponification Value | 168–181 mg KOH/g | — | AOCS Cd 3-25 |
Compliance
Regulatory Status & Certifications
EU RED III — First-generation Crop Feedstock (7% Cap)
- First-generation food/feed crop feedstock — single-counted under EU RED III (no double-counting)
- Subject to 7% food and feed crop cap in transport energy across the EU
- ISCC EU or REDcert certification required for EU mandate compliance
- No Annex IX classification — higher regulatory value waste feedstocks (UCO, SBEO) are uncapped
- EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) due diligence required for imports from high-risk countries — EU-origin rapeseed is low risk
End Uses
Applications
FAME Biodiesel (RME)
Rapeseed methyl ester (RME) is the dominant EU biodiesel type. B7 blending mandate fully covered. Well-established EN 14214 compliant production pathway.
HVO / Renewable Diesel
Co-feedstock in HVO plants. Good hydrogen consumption profile. Lower GHG credit than waste feedstocks but stable, large-volume supply.
Co-processing
Direct co-feed into petroleum refinery hydrotreaters. Renewable diesel credit under national co-processing certification schemes.
SAF (HEFA)
Rapeseed oil HEFA-SAF pathway achieves RED III minimum 65% GHG threshold. Subject to crop cap — less preferred than waste feedstocks for SAF mandates.
Supply Geography
Origins & Availability
EU is the world's largest rapeseed oil producer. Key supply origins: Germany (largest EU producer, ~13 MT seed/year), France, Poland, Czech Republic and Ukraine (non-EU, subject to additional import documentation). SUAT provides ISCC-certified supply from established EU crushers and traders.