Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Pfad Market Size
Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) market size was valued at USD 1.37 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.02 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 12.6%.
PFAD is the by-product of the refining process of palm oil, which is separated during the physical refining of crude palm oil. Indeed, this is a very complex mixture of its various components, mainly free fatty acids, with the balance made up of triglycerides, partial glycerides, sterols, and tocopherols, among other minor compounds. PFAD usually results from the steam distillation of crude palm oil to remove free fatty acids and other impurities, resulting in a distillate rich in these components. The composition of PFAD may vary depending on the quality of crude palm oil and refining processes. Still, generally, it contains 70-90% free fatty acids, while among the major fatty acids present are palmitic and oleic acid. Other FAs that may be part of PFAD include stearic, linoleic, and myristic acids. The high content of free FAs gives PFAD a relatively low pH and generally renders it an excellent raw material for many industrial uses. Small amounts are present of the valuable minor components of vitamin E, in its tocopherol and tocotrienol forms, in PFAD and phytosterols, adding to their nutritional and pharmaceutical value. Over the last years, more detailed research has been carried out on optimizing the use of PFAD and researching new potential uses. Improvement in extraction techniques to release valuable minor components, the development of processes that would provide higher-value products from PFAD, and the possible use of PFAD in new areas such as lubricants and bioplastics are also taken into consideration. Indeed, with the advancement of the palm oil industry, thereby with pressure for a better sustainability role, the perception of PFAD might change, unlocking innovations and applications for this very versatile byproduct.