Oilseed Oil Content Comparison
Oilseed Oil Content Comparison — reference table
| Oilseed | Oil content (indicative) | Dehulled? | Typical route | Cake / meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesame | ~48–55% | No (whole) | Cold/roasted press | Protein feed |
| Coconut (copra) | ~60–68% | N/A (dried kernel) | Press ± solvent | Coconut cake |
| Walnut | ~60–65% | Shelled | Cold press | — |
| Groundnut (peanut) | ~44–50% | Shelled | Roast + press | Protein feed |
| Castor | ~45–50% | Hulled | Cold press (industrial) | Detoxified cake |
| Sunflower | ~38–48% | Yes (hull 20–30%) | Dehull + press | Protein meal |
| Rapeseed / Canola | ~38–44% | No (whole) | Pre-press + extraction | Protein feed |
| Linseed / Flax | ~35–42% | No (whole) | Cold press | Linseed meal |
| Mustard | ~33–40% | No (whole) | Cold press (kachi ghani) | Protein/functional cake |
| Hemp seed | ~30–35% | Sometimes | Cold press | Protein/fibre cake |
| Oil palm (fruit) | High (fruit mesocarp) | N/A (fruit) | Fresh milling + press | Kernel oil, biomass |
| Rice bran | ~15–22% | N/A (milling by-product) | Stabilize + solvent | De-oiled bran (feed) |
| Cottonseed | ~15–20% (whole) | Yes (delint + hull) | Pre-press + solvent | Protein meal |
| Soybean | ~18–20% | Often | Solvent extraction | High-protein meal |
| Corn (germ) | Oil in germ (kernel low) | N/A (germ separated) | Germ press + solvent | Germ meal |
| Olives (fruit) | ~20% (of fruit) | No (whole fruit) | Cold mechanical (centrifuge) | Pomace |
How to read this table
Oil content is the single biggest driver of how a seed is processed. High-oil seeds (sesame, coconut, walnut, groundnut ~44–68%) press economically and are often the basis of premium oils. Moderate-oil seeds (sunflower, rapeseed, linseed, mustard ~33–48%) press well, some pre-pressed then solvent-extracted at scale. Low-oil seeds (soybean, cottonseed, rice bran ~15–22%) leave too much oil in the cake to press economically, so they go to solvent extraction. Fruit oils (palm, olive) come from the flesh rather than a seed and follow their own routes. Reading oil content together with the route column shows why: the lower the oil, the more the process shifts from pressing toward solvent extraction.
Why oil content varies
Oil content is set by the crop's biology and, within a crop, by variety and growing conditions — which is why every figure here is a range, not a point. Breeding has pushed oil content up in oilseed-type sunflower and canola; fruit crops like palm and olive concentrate oil in flesh rather than seed; and by-product sources like rice bran and corn germ carry oil in a specific fraction of a larger grain. The values are indicative of typical commercial material and will shift with the specific seed lot, so they are best used for planning and comparison rather than as exact specifications.
Oil content and yield economics
Higher oil content generally means more oil per tonne of seed and stronger pressing economics, but the full picture includes the cake or meal value: for low-oil soybean, the high-protein meal often drives the economics more than the oil. Use the oil yield calculator to estimate output for a specific seed and method from these figures, and the individual oilseed pages for full processing detail on each crop.
Using this table to plan
The most useful way to apply these figures is to read oil content, dehulling and route together for a candidate crop, then estimate output with the yield calculator and check the economics with the ROI calculator, remembering that press recovery (not just seed oil content) and the value of the cake both shape the result. For full processing detail on any crop, follow its link to the individual oilseed page, which covers preparation, route, cake value and market fit in depth. Treat every figure here as an indicative starting point to verify against your actual seed and equipment.
About these figures
Every value in this table is an indicative range compiled from published agronomy and consolidated from the individual oilseed pages, where each crop's oil content is discussed with its variety and processing context. Ranges reflect real variation by cultivar, growing conditions and how the seed is prepared and measured, so they are a guide for comparison and planning rather than an exact specification for a specific seed lot. Where a crop's oil sits in a specific fraction — the germ of corn, the mesocarp of palm — the table notes this rather than implying the whole grain or fruit carries that oil content.
Related pages
All oilseedsOil yield calculatorExpeller vs solvent
Related reading: Oilseed oil content analysis: patterns across our 16 documented seeds.
FAQ
Which oilseed has the highest oil content?
Among common oilseeds, coconut (copra, ~60–68%) and walnut (~60–65%) are highest, followed by sesame (~48–55%) and groundnut (~44–50%). Fruit oils like palm are high in the fruit flesh.
Which oilseeds have low oil content?
Soybean (~18–20%), cottonseed (~15–20% of whole seed) and rice bran (~15–22%) are low, which is why they are usually solvent-extracted rather than pressed.
Why is oil content given as a range?
Because it varies with crop variety and growing conditions. The figures are indicative of typical commercial material, not exact values for a specific seed lot.
Does higher oil content mean better economics?
Usually stronger pressing economics, but not always the whole story — for low-oil seeds like soybean, the high-protein meal can drive the crush economics more than the oil.