Corn Oil Standards, Identity and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-13Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$7.2B

Producing countries tracked

10

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

4

Trade corridors

5

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are identity characteristics in the current FAO/WHO Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils, CXS 210-1999, modified in 2024. They support analytical identity assessment for maize oil presented for human consumption; they are not production totals, guaranteed results for an untested lot, current availability, a physical offer or a delivered price.

Maize-oil relative-density lower bound

0.917

relative density at 20 degrees Celsius over water at 20 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, modified 2024

Maize-oil relative-density upper bound

0.925

relative density at 20 degrees Celsius over water at 20 degrees Celsius · CXS 210-1999, modified 2024

Maize-oil saponification-value lower bound

187

milligrams potassium hydroxide per gram of oil · CXS 210-1999, modified 2024

Maize-oil saponification-value upper bound

195

milligrams potassium hydroxide per gram of oil · CXS 210-1999, modified 2024

Maize-oil unsaponifiable-matter ceiling

28

grams per kilogram, maximum · CXS 210-1999, modified 2024

Whole corn, germ, crude oil and refined oil are separate products

Codex defines maize or corn oil as oil derived from maize germ, the embryo of Zea mays. Whole grain, separated germ, crude germ oil, refined edible oil, corn endosperm oil described for feed use, degumming by-products and blended or formulated products carry different composition, processing, regulatory and end-use evidence. Atlas keeps the source fraction, processing stage and intended use explicit before comparing quality, price or trade records.

Identity characteristics require the full analytical record

CXS 210 lists maize-oil ranges including relative density from 0.917 to 0.925 and saponification value from 187 to 195 milligrams potassium hydroxide per gram, with unsaponifiable matter no more than 28 grams per kilogram. The standard also provides refractive-index, iodine-value and fatty-acid ranges. One matching characteristic cannot authenticate a sample; the applicable methods, complete profile, sample identity and chain of custody remain attached.

Edible and feed-use descriptions do not collapse into one specification

The Codex standard applies to named vegetable oils presented for human consumption. Canada's feed-ingredient table separately describes corn endosperm oil extracted from corn gluten and requires guarantees for moisture, insoluble matter, unsaponifiable matter and free fatty acids. A lot record therefore retains intended use, governing jurisdiction, crude or refined condition, antioxidants or other permitted additions, processing history, analytical certificate and labeling basis rather than transferring one standard automatically to another product.

An identity range is not a delivered corn-oil price

A current physical comparison needs the exact source fraction, crude or refined state, intended use and governing specification, laboratory certificate, processor and origin, package or tank, quantity, currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, freight and insurance basis, delivery window and current permitted observations. Atlas does not convert a maize futures value, corn balance or oil identity range into a live delivered corn-oil price.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are corn grain, corn germ and corn oil interchangeable?

No. Whole grain, separated germ and extracted oil are different product stages with different specifications, units, processing evidence, end uses and price formation.

What relative-density range does Codex list for maize oil?

The current named-vegetable-oils standard lists 0.917 to 0.925 at 20 degrees Celsius relative to water at 20 degrees Celsius. It is an identity characteristic, not a guaranteed result for an untested lot.

Does one saponification result prove corn-oil identity?

No. Codex lists a 187 to 195 milligram-potassium-hydroxide-per-gram range, but authentication requires the applicable methods, full identity profile, sample record, processing context and chain of custody.

Which fields make physical corn-oil offers comparable?

Source fraction, crude or refined state, intended use, processing and additions, governing specification, full identity and quality analysis, contaminants, origin and processor, lot, package or tank history, quantity, currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, delivery window and evidence date.