Rice bran oil is the oil in the outer layer of the rice grain, and Pakistan, as a big rice producer and exporter, has plenty of raw material for it. If you import rice bran oil, the choice of supplier comes down to a few numbers: the grade, the free fatty acid level, the price basis and the paperwork. This guide walks through each, with a worked example for comparing quotes. Our own specifications are on the rice bran oil page, and you can send a quote request if you already know your volume.
What is rice bran oil?
When brown rice is milled into white rice, the outer layer is scraped off. That layer is the bran, and one review puts it at about 8% of the weight of the rice. We handle basmati rice too, so this by-product is familiar to us from the milling side. The oil in the bran carries gamma-oryzanol, an antioxidant compound found in rice bran, at roughly 2% in crude oil. The finished oil is light, mild in taste and not greasy.
How it is made, and why grade matters
Raw bran spoils fast. Its enzymes start breaking the oil down within hours, so the bran has to be heat-treated almost immediately. Most commercial oil is then extracted with food-grade hexane and refined. Cold-pressed oil exists, but yields are lower and it is a small niche, so if a seller uses that word, ask for the process on the COA.
Crude oil is darker, holds more oryzanol and carries a much higher free fatty acid (FFA) level, which is why it usually goes on for refining. Refined oil is clear and mild, and it has a much lower FFA. FFA is the number importers read first, because the lower it is, the cleaner and fresher the oil.
Cooking with rice bran oil
Refined rice bran cooking oil has a smoke point of about 232°C, higher than many common oils, so frying, stir-frying and continuous frying don’t push it past its limit. The mild taste matters in commercial kitchens, where the oil shouldn’t flavour the food. Bakeries use it as a neutral base, and cosmetic makers use it as a light carrier. See our vegetable cooking oil range for the rest of the category, and note that buyers who want a stronger flavour often add sesame oil or coconut oil to the same order.
What the health research says
A meta-analysis of eight randomised trials found that rice bran oil lowered total cholesterol by about 7 mg/dL, LDL by about 7.6 mg/dL and triglycerides by about 9 mg/dL. These are small changes, and it is still a fat with the same calories as other oils. Rules on nutrition claims differ by country, so check with your regulator before putting one on a label.
What does rice bran oil cost?
There is no single price, because it depends on the grade, the market and the terms. Market reports for early 2026 show about USD 1,345 per tonne in China in the second quarter, and roughly USD 2,000 to 2,700 per tonne in India, Japan, the UK and Germany in March 2026. These cover different grades and import markets, and they are not our quotes.
On your side, the price moves with the rice season, how much bran is available, the grade, the pack size, freight and volume. Also check the terms. FOB means the supplier covers costs up to the port of Karachi, while CIF adds freight and insurance to your destination port. For a price on your exact grade and destination, use the quote form.
A worked example: comparing two quotes
A lower price isn’t always the cheaper oil. Take two illustrative quotes. Supplier A asks USD 1,400 per tonne for oil with 3% FFA, and Supplier B asks USD 1,500 for oil with 1% FFA. If you have to refine Supplier A’s oil before use and you lose around 5% of it in refining, its effective price is about USD 1,474 per tonne, before paying for the refining itself. The gap nearly closes, and Supplier B’s oil arrives ready to use. These numbers are examples only, so run the same sum with your own refining loss and costs.
Can you buy rice bran oil online?
For bulk, “online” usually means a request for quotation rather than a shopping basket. The sensible order is to send your specification and destination, get a quote that states the grade and terms, test a sample from the lot you will actually receive, and pay only after that. Check the supplier’s registration and certificates first, and use a payment method you trust, such as a letter of credit or a trade-assurance platform. Importers also need a customs code, which is usually HS 1515.90 for rice bran oil, but your customs broker should confirm it. If you want to talk through the steps, contact our team.
Rice bran oil in Pakistan
Pakistan’s rice mills produce bran in large quantities, so rice bran oil in Pakistan is both sold locally and exported. For an overseas buyer, whether it exists matters less than whether a supplier can show the grade, the lab values and the export documents. S. Ather and Brothers has traded oils from Karachi since 1960, and you can read the history about us. Our certifications are listed on the site.
What to ask before you order
- Grade and process: crude or refined, solvent-extracted or cold-pressed.
- FFA and peroxide value: both should be on the COA for your lot.
- Moisture: it should be low, because water shortens shelf life.
- Oryzanol: if you plan a nutrition claim, ask for a measured value, not a typical one.
- Packing and shelf life: drum type and size, and the date the shelf life counts from.
- Documents: COA, MSDS and any Halal or export certificates your market needs.
If you are buying several oils for one destination, ask whether they ship together. Our plant and animal oil range shows what we handle alongside rice bran oil.
Our rice bran oil
We supply rice bran oil in 200-litre food-grade iron drums. The listed free fatty acid is 1% to 1.3% and moisture is 0.1% to 0.3%. That FFA sits below typical crude oil and above fully refined oil, so please read the COA of your lot for the exact grade before ordering. COA and MSDS are available before any bulk commitment, and our Karachi laboratory tests oils by gas chromatography before they ship.
Frequently asked questions
What packing do you offer?
A 200-litre food-grade iron drum is our standard. Contact us for other formats.
Do you provide a COA and MSDS?
Yes, both before any bulk commitment.
How much does it cost per tonne?
Reports in 2026 range from roughly USD 1,300 to 2,700 per tonne depending on grade and market, so request a quote for yours.
What is the shelf life?
It depends on the grade and storage. Keep it cool, dry and away from light, and ask which date the supplier counts from.
Can I add other oils to the same shipment?
Ask us. We also supply mustard oil, sesame oil and coconut oil, and we can confirm what combines for your destination.
