FRESH FRUIT BUNCH

RECEPTION &
QUALITY
DIPOM
2024
Ts. CHE RAHMAT BIN CHE MAT
ENGINEERING & PROCESSING RESEARCH
DIVISION
30 APRIL 2024
 FRESH FRUIT BUNCHES
(FFB)
🠶 It is the raw material for palm oil mills.
🠶 The fruit from the tree is processed and has two main products crude
palm oil and palm kernel.
 RAW MATERIAL
FRESH FRUIT
BUNCH
(1 Tonne)

MAIN
PRODUCT

CRUDE PALM OIL KERNEL

(20 – 24 %) (5 - 6 %)
BY-PRODUCTS

EMPTY FIBRE SHELL POME BUNCH

BUNCH (20 (12 – 14 (5 – 6 (60 – 65 ASH
RELATIONSHIP OF BUNCH
COMPONENTS
 Oil/bunch ratio is the product of three
components, ie:

Fruits x Mesocarp x Oil = Oil

Bunch Fruits Mesocarp Bunch

 These components can be influenced

by a host of factors independently
 BUNCH RIPENESS

 Ripeness has greatest effect of oil to mesocarp ratio.

 Development of mesocarp peaks at colour change, oil
synthesis continues until detachment.
 Difference in oil in wet mesocarp between ripe and unripe
bunch of up to 10%.
 Commercial trial showed up to 4% difference in OER
between ripe and unripe bunches.
 The mesocarps to fruitlet ratio fairly constant at 75.9% -
77.5% for FFB harvested under 4 different ripeness
standard ( unripe, underripe, ripe and overripe bunch).
B.J. Wood
COMPONENTS OF FFB COMPOSITION AFFECTING FFB
QUALITY

Oil Fruitlets
Mesocarp
Bunch Pollination
Planting Ripeness
Material Palm Age
Planting
Palm Age Material FFB Quality in terms
FFB (i) Oil and Kernel
Composition Extraction Rate
Soil Ripeness Ripeness (ii) Oil Quality
Planting
Planting Material
Pest
Material Palm Age
Foreign
Matter Loose Mesocarp
Fruitlets
Fruitlets
 FFB
RECEPTION

Estate/
Smallhol
de r

Millers

Dealers
 FFB
RECEPTION
🠶 The first process is the reception of FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunch) in a Palm oil mill.
🠶 The FFB arrives in a mill in trucks or trailers. These are first weighed over a
weighbridge. The trucks then go to the FFB loading ramp, where they are
emptied.
🠶 Most trucks have tipping containers and the trucks can be unloaded fast.
In many remote areas the trucks are manually unloaded, and this takes
time.
FUNCTION OF THE RECEPTION
STATION
a. To weigh in all the FFB.
b. To weigh out all palm
products and others.
c. To receive, transfer FFB into
cages for storage.
d. To segregate and store FFB
at loading ramp and rail
line according to grade of
FFB.
e. To assess grade of FFB.
 FACILITIES AT RECEPTION
STATION
Reception facilities depend on mode of
FFB delivery to the mill. FFB delivery is
categorized into three mode:
No Mode of delivery Facilities required
.
1 Containerized – filled Over-head gantry or cranes
sterilizer cages from for cages off-loading
field
Internal transporters to
move cages after
unloading – e.g. tractor or
capstan
Proper storage yard and layout
to ensure required turn
around of cages with
minimum handling is achieved
 MODE OF FFB DELIVERY TO THE
MILL
No. Mode of delivery Facilities required
2 Tipper truck / wagons Off loading ramp or cage pit to tip
the FFB from the wagons into
sterilizer cages
Internal transporters to move cages
after unloading –e.g. tractor
Proper storage yard and layout to
ensure required turn around of
cages with minimum handling is
achieved
 MODE OF FFB DELIVERY TO THE
MILL

No. Mode of delivery Facilities required

3 Lorries /tractors-Bin / bulk Off loading ramp to store and then to
system transfer the FFB off-loaded from the
lorries/tractor into sterilizer cages.

Internal transporters to move into

the storage yard.
Proper storage yard and layout to
ensure required turn around of
cages with minimum handling is
achieved
MODE OF FFB DELIVERY TO THE
MILL
 QUALIT
Y
🠶 the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar
kind; the degree of excellence of something.
🠶 non-inferiority or superiority of something; defined as being suitable for
its intended purpose while satisfying customer expectations.
🠶 the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that
bears its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs
🠶 a measure of excellence or a state of being free from defects,
deficiencies and significa nt variations.
 FFB
QUALITY
🠶 The FFB arriving at the mill has to be checked for quality. Ripe FFB yields
very much more oil than under ripe FFB. The major factors that will
determine the quantity of oil (Oil extraction Ratio- OER) is the ripeness of
the FFB.
🠶 The FFB is graded by FFB graders and the suppliers penalised for poor
quality of FFB delivered. The penalty can be by allocation of a lower oil
extraction ratio or a deduction in the weight of the FFB supplied. The
price of FFB is determined by the oil available in the FFB.
 FFB QUALITY

 The most important parameter

 Determines the product yield
 Oil extraction rate (OER)
 Kernel extraction rate (KER)
 Determines the product quality
 FFA, PV & DOBI
 FACTORS EFFECTING OER

? OER
 FACTORS INFLUENCING FFB
QUALITY
Estate Operation Mill Operation

Harvesting
Handling &
Transport & Reception
Handling
FFB Quality
- OER & KER
- Oil Quality
Fruits/FFB
Oil/Mesocarp
Mesocarp/Fruits
Foreign Matter
Loose Fruits

FFB Composition
 PALM OIL
COMPOSITION
Perikarp = Eksokarp +
Mesokarp

Endokarp = Shell + Kernel

Shell Mesokarp
Endokarp Perikarp
Kernel Eksokarp
 Oil Formation Process in Palm Oil

21 Ripe

% OER

Underripe
10

Unripe

0 10 14 20
Week
 CPO PRODUCTIONS

Estates /
Smallholders
CPO Produce
( O/B)
Millers
( OER )

FFB Dealers

Oil Loses
 Oil Extraction
Ratio?
CPO Produced (mt)
X 100%
FFB Processed (mt)
 Mill Efficiency Index

Example :-

FFB : 550
Processed mt/day
CPO Produced : 120
mt/day
OER = 120 mt/day X 100
550 %
OER mt/day
= 21.81%
PROCESSING STATION IN PALM OIL MILL

Loading Ramp Steriliser Thresher

Digester Press Clarification

Power Electric
Nut Plant Station
 FFB MANUAL
GRADING
The main objective of this manual is to enhance the quality and
quantity of the palm oil and palm kernels in Malaysia.
The specific objectives are as follows:
i. to increase the quality of the processed oil palm fruits in the mill
ii. to increase the quality and quantity of the crude palm oil
iii. to increase the oil extraction rate and kernel extraction rate in
the mill
iv. to establish a transparent, fair and harmonious business
environment.

🠶 A Quality Bunch is defined as a fresh quality bunch with high oil content and no
penalty imposed.
 SAMPLING
PROCEDURE
• Take random samples from the parts of a consignment for grading.
The number of samples should be evenly estimation representing the
top, middle and bottom layers of the pile consignment.

• The number of bunch samples to be graded is determined by the

weight of a consignment, as follows:
i.a minimum of 50 bunches for a consignment of less than
5 tonnes; or
ii.a minimum of 100 bunches for a consignment of 5
tonnes and
more.

• Separate the sampled bunches from the consignment.

 WET
BUNCHES
Wet bunches are the consignment
of oil palm fruits that has water
dripping from the load
 RIPE
BUNCH

Ripe Bunch is a bunch that has

an orange-yellow coloured
outer layer of the mesocarp and
has at least ten (10) loose fruits
from the bunch and more than
fifty percent (50%) of the fruits
still attached to the bunch
 OVERRIPE
BUNCH

Normally, a bunch with an

orange-yellow coloured
outer layer of the
mesocarp, and has:
a)at least ten percent
(10%) of the fruits still
attached to the bunch;
and
b)more than fifty percent
(50%) of loose fruits from
the bunch
 UNDERRIPE
BUNCH

A bunch with an orange-

yellow coloured outer layer of
mesocarp and has less than
ten (10) sockets of loose fruits
 UNRIPE
BUNCH

A bunch with the

following characteristics:
a) an orange-yellow
coloured outer layer of the
mesocarp and does not
have any loose fruit sockets
 UNRIPE BUNCH cont.
…

b) a yellow colored outer layer

of the mesocarp with or does
not have any sockets of loose
fruits
 Overkept
Bunch
Overkept bunch is an unripe bunch
which has been kept or being kept
for over period of time after
harvesting (Picture 6) . Normally, one
or more of the following
characteristics are identified in
Overkept Bunch:
a) blackish brown soft and
shrunken
stalk;
b)pale and shrunken fruits on
the bunch;
c) many loose fruits at the outer
layer
of the bunch;
d)loose fruits have rudiment
 ROTTEN
BUNCH

Rotten Bunc h is an unfresh bunch

or a consignment with the
following characteristics:
a) bunches that are unable to be
classified for its ripeness; or
b)partly or total bunches, including
the loose fruits had changed to
black colour,
smelly or mouldy
 EMPTY
BUNCH

Empty bunc h is a bunch that

has more than ninety percent
(90%) of fruitlets detached from
the bunch
 DIRTY
BUNCH

Dirty Bunch is a bunch with more

than half of its surface c overed
by foreign particles, such as
mud, sand, tailings or stones
 OLD
BUNCH
Old Bunch a Bunc or an
Underripe
is Ripe thath has been
Bunch
harvested and left in the field or
collection c entre, and has the
following characteristics:
a) soft and shrunken stalk that
is
blackish-brown colour;
b)many fruits detached from its outer
bunch; and
c)fruits remain attached to the bunch
are reddish coloured fruits.
 DURA
BUNCH
Dura Bunc h is a bunch has a one or
more characteristics that differs from
Tenera fruits characteristics as follows :
No. Characteristics Tener
Dura a
a. shell thickness (mm) 2 (DxP)
–8 0.5 -
b. ratio of shell to fruit (%)
25 - 3
4-
c. ratio of mesorcarp to 50 fruit 20
(%) 60 -
20 - 60 96
d. ratio of kernel to fruits4 (%)
- 20

3 - 15
e. fibre ring surrounding the cross-
section of the seed.
None
 DURA BUNCH cont.
….
Fibre Ring
 LONG STALK
BUNCH

Long Stalk Bunch is a bunch

whose stalk measures more than
5 cm from its lowest point.

melebihi 5cm
 DAMAGED
BUNCH

Damaged Bunch is a bunch

with more than thirty percent
(30%) of its fruits damaged by
pests such as rats
 SMALL
BUNCH

Small Bunch is a bunch

that weighs less than 2.3
kg
 UNFRESH
BUNCH

Unfresh Bunch is a bunch that has

normally been harvested for
more than 48 hours before
being marketed
 PARTHENOCARPHIC
BUNCH
Parthenocarphic Bunch is a bunch
whose fruitlets are formed without
the pollination process and does
not have any kernels (Picture 16).
Normally, a parthenocarphic bunch
has the following characteristics:
a) abnormal size or denseness; or
b)contains more than fifty percent
(50%) of parthenorcaphic fruits.
 LOOSE
FRUIT
Loose Fruit is a fruit detached
from a fresh bunch as it has
ripened (Picture 17). Loose fruits
together with harvested fresh
bunches should be delivered to
the mill within 24 hours after
harvesting. Delivering or selling
loose fruits separate from fresh
fruits bunches is not allowed as it
will affect the mill’s oil extraction
rate. The act of deliberate
loosening the fruits to obtain
loose fruits is totally banned.
 Tarikh:
Masa :
NAMA PEMBEKAL : XYZ Plantation Sdn. Bhd.

NO. NO. LESEN MPOB

KENDERAAN : 123456-002000
: JFG 811 NO. TIKET TIMBANG : 12345
BERAT BERSIH KONSAINAN : 8,000 KG

The purpose of grading oil palm

BILANGAN SAMPEL : 100
PENETAPAN KADAR PERAHAN ASAS *

bunches is to determine the

i. PURATA BERAT TANDAN: 20 KG BOER: 21 % BKER: 5 %
ii.UMUR POKOK : BOER: % BKER: %

quality, Oil and Kernel Extraction

TAHUN

Rates that may be offered by the PENGGREDAN BILANGA

N
PERATUS (%) PENALTI (%)

buyer to the supplier. TANDAN

Muatan Basah / 0.44
The grader shall use the Grading Tandan Tidak 1 10
Segar 0
Form and should be done in the JUMLAH (A)

presence of the supplier or his/her (1)

(2)
Tandan Masak
Tandan Mengkal
88
10
88
10 0.50
representative, such as the lorry (3)
(4)
Tandan Busuk
Tandan Kosong 1
1 1
1
0.12
0.10
driver or attendant. The grading JUMLAH (B) 100 100 0.72
activities are as follows: (1) Tandan Kotor 0 0 0
(2) Tandan Lama 0 0 0
a. assessment for the bunch (3) Tandan Dura 0 0 0
(4) Tandan Tangkai Panjang 1 1 0.01
quality; JUMLAH (C) 1 1 0.01
b.calculation of penalty for JUMLAH BESAR (A + B + C) 1.17

the poor quality bunch; Kadar Perahan Minyak Digred (GOER)

* Pilih salah
19.83

c.determination of the basic :

satu Catatan
Tanda tangan
d. calculation
oil extraction rate;ofand
graded Nama Penggred: AHMAD

oil
extraction
 Basic Oil Extraction Rate Are Based On Average Bunch
Weight

Average Bunch Peninsular Sabah

Weight (kg) Extraction Sarawak
Rate Extraction
Rate
Oil (%) Kernel (%) Oil (%) Kernel (%)

<3 18.0 4.0 18.5 3.8

3 hingga < 4 18.5 4.2 19.0 4.0
4 hingga < 6 19.0 4.5 19.5 4.2
6 hingga < 8 19.5 4.8 20.0 4.5
8 hingga < 10 20.0 4.8 21.0 4.5
10 hingga 25 21.0 5.0 22.0 4.8
>25 20.5 5.0 21.5 5.0
 Basic Oil Extraction Rate Are Based On Age Of
Palm

Palm Age (year) Peninsular Peninsular

Base Extraction Rate Base Extraction Rate
Oil (%) Kernel (%) Oil (%) Kernel (%)
<4 18.0 4.0 18.5 3.8
4 hingga < 5 18.5 4.2 19.0 4.0
5 hingga < 6 19.0 4.5 19.5 4.2
6 hingga < 7 19.5 4.8 20.0 4.5
7 hingga < 8 20.0 4.8 21.0 4.5
8 hingga 20 21.0 5.0 22.0 4.8
>20 20.5 5.0 21.5 5.0
Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for
the Underrripe Bunch

Uni Underripe Bunch

t 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
(%)

0 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50
1 0.05 0.55 1.05 1.55 2.05 2.55 3.05 3.55 4.05 4.55
2 0.10 0.60 1.10 1.60 2.10 2.60 3.10 3.60 4.10 4.60
3 0.15 0.65 1.15 1.65 2.15 2.65 3.15 3.65 4.15 4.65
4 0.20 0.70 1.20 1.70 2.20 2.70 3.20 3.70 4.20 4.70
5 0.25 0.75 1.25 1.75 2.25 2.75 3.25 3.75 4.25 4.75
6 0.30 0.80 1.30 1.80 2.30 2.80 3.30 3.80 4.30 4.80
7 0.35 0.85 1.35 1.85 2.35 2.85 3.35 3.85 4.35 4.85
8 0.40 0.90 1.40 1.90 2.40 2.90 3.40 3.90 4.40 4.90
9 0.45 0.95 1.45 1.95 2.45 2.95 3.45 3.95 4.45 4.95
 Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for
the Rotten Bunch
Unit Rotten Bunch
(%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 1.20 2.40 3.60 * * * * * *

1 0.12 1.32 2.52 * * * * * * *
2 0.24 1.44 2.64 * * * * * * *
3 0.36 1.56 2.76 * * * * * * *
4 0.48 1.68 2.88 * * * * * * *
5 0.60 1.80 3.00 * * * * * * *
6 0.72 1.92 3.12 * * * * * * *
7 0.84 2.04 3.24 * * * * * * *
8 0.96 2.16 3.36 * * * * * * *
9 1.08 2.28 3.48 * * * * * * *
*The whole consignment is rejected
Penalty Imposed on Basic Oil Extraction Rate for the
Empty Bunch
Unit Empty Bunch
(%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 1.00 2.00 * * * * * * *

1 0.10 1.10 * * * * * * * *
2 0.20 1.20 * * * * * * * *
3 0.30 1.30 * * * * * * * *
4 0.40 1.40 * * * * * * * *
5 0.50 1.50 * * * * * * * *
6 0.60 1.60 * * * * * * * *
7 0.70 1.70 * * * * * * * *
8 0.80 1.80 * * * * * * * *
9 0.90 1.90 * * * * * * * *
*The whole Consignment is rejected
 Penalty imposed on Basic Oil Extraction Rate for the
Dirty Bunch
Unit Dirty Bunch
(%) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 * * * * * *

1 0.10 1.10 2.10 * * * * * * *
2 0.20 1.20 2.20 * * * * * * *
3 0.30 1.30 2.30 * * * * * * *
4 0.40 1.40 2.40 * * * * * * *
5 0.50 1.50 2.50 * * * * * * *
6 0.60 1.60 2.60 * * * * * * *
7 0.70 1.70 2.70 * * * * * * *
8 0.80 1.80 2.80 * * * * * * *
9 0.90 1.90 2.90 * * * * * * *
*The whole consignment is rejected
 Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for
the Old Bunch
Unit Old Bunch
(%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 0.80 1.60 2.40 3.20 4.00 4.80 5.60 6.40 7.20
1 0.08 0.88 1.68 2.48 3.28 4.08 4.88 5.68 6.48 7.28
2 0.16 0.96 1.76 2.56 3.36 4.16 4.96 5.76 6.56 7.36
3 0.24 1.04 1.84 2.64 3.44 4.24 5.04 5.84 6.64 7.44
4 0.32 1.12 1.92 2.72 3.52 4.32 5.12 5.92 6.72 7.52
5 0.40 1.20 2.00 2.80 3.60 4.40 5.20 6.00 6.80 7.60
6 0.48 1.28 2.08 2.88 3.68 4.48 5.28 6.08 6.88 7.68
7 0.56 1.36 2.16 2.96 3.76 4.56 5.36 6.16 6.96 7.76
8 0.64 1.44 2.24 3.04 3.84 4.64 5.44 6.24 7.04 7.84
9 0.72 1.52 2.32 3.12 3.92 4.72 5.52 6.32 7.12 7.92
 Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for the
Dura Bunch
Unit Dura Bunch
(%) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 0.40 0.80 1.20 1.60 2.00 2.40 2.80 3.20 3.60
1 0.04 0.44 0.84 1.24 1.64 2.04 2.44 2.84 3.24 3.64
2 0.08 0.48 0.88 1.28 1.68 2.08 2.48 2.88 3.28 3.68
3 0.12 0.52 0.92 1.32 1.72 2.12 2.52 2.92 3.32 3.72
4 0.16 0.56 0.96 1.36 1.76 2.16 2.56 2.96 3.36 3.76
5 0.20 0.60 1.00 1.40 1.80 2.20 2.60 3.00 3.40 3.80
6 0.24 0.64 1.04 1.44 1.84 2.24 2.64 3.04 3.44 3.84
7 0.28 0.68 1.08 1.48 1.88 2.28 2.68 3.08 3.48 3.88
8 0.32 0.72 1.12 1.52 1.92 2.32 2.72 3.12 3.52 3.92
9 0.36 0.76 1.16 1.56 1.96 2.36 2.76 3.16 3.56 3.96
 Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for the
Long Stalk Bunch

Unit Long Stalk Bunch

(%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90
1 0.01 0.11 0.21 0.31 0.41 0.51 0.61 0.71 0.81 0.91
2 0.02 0.12 0.22 0.32 0.42 0.52 0.62 0.72 0.82 0.92
3 0.03 0.03 0.23 0.33 0.43 0.53 0.63 0.73 0.83 0.93
4 0.04 0.14 0.24 0.34 0.44 0.54 0.64 0.74 0.84 0.94
5 0.05 0.15 0.25 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.75 0.85 0.95
6 0.06 0.16 0.26 0.36 0.46 0.56 0.66 0.76 0.86 0.96
7 0.07 0.17 0.27 0.37 0.47 0.57 0.67 0.77 0.87 0.97
8 0.08 0.18 0.28 0.38 0.48 0.58 0.68 0.78 0.88 0.98
9 0.09 0.19 0.29 0.39 0.49 0.59 0.69 0.79 0.89 0.99
 Penalty Imposed on the Basic Oil Extraction Rate for
Wet Consignment based on the supply of the Unfresh
Bunch.
Unit Wet Bunch Based on Percentage of Unfresh Bunch
(%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0 0.40 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.60 0.64 0.68 0.72 0.76
1 0.40 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.60 0.64 0.68 0.72 0.76
2 0.41 0.45 0.49 0.53 0.57 0.61 0.65 0.69 0.73 0.77
3 0.41 0.45 0.49 0.53 0.57 0.61 0.65 0.69 0.73 0.77
4 0.42 0.46 0.50 0.54 0.58 0.62 0.66 0.70 0.74 0.78
5 0.42 0.46 0.50 0.54 0.58 0.62 0.66 0.70 0.74 0.78
6 0.42 0.46 0.50 0.54 0.58 0.62 0.66 0.70 0.74 0.78
7 0.43 0.47 0.51 0.55 0.59 0.63 0.67 0.71 0.75 0.79
8 0.43 0.47 0.51 0.55 0.59 0.63 0.67 0.71 0.75 0.79
9 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.60 0.64 0.68 0.72 0.76 0.80
 OIL PALM FRUITS PRICE
CALCULATION

Calculate the price of oil palm fruits at the rate of 1% BOER as follows:
FFB Price at 1% BOER = [ (CPOp - C – TC - AC ) (BOER) + (PKp – AC ) (BKER) -
(PC) ]
BOER

Step 2: Calculate the price of oil palm fruits consignment as follows:

Price of FFB consignment = FFB price at 1% BOER x GOER x FFB weight
(tonne) where:
FFB = Oil palm fruits (tonne)
CPOp = Crude palm oil(delivered) price
according to region PKp = Palm kernel (ex-mill)
price
C = MPOB cess
TC = Transporation charges for a tonne of crude palm
oil to the buyer
AC = Other additional charges such as sales tax (if
necessary)
BOER = Basic rate of oil extraction according to the bunch weight or age of
the palm BKER = Basic kernel extraction rate according to the bunch weight or age
of the palm PC = Processing charge for a tonne of FFB imposed by the mill.
 EXAMPLE OF PRICE OF OIL PALM FRUITS
CALCULATION

Step 1: Calculate the price of oil palm fruits at 1% BOER as follows:

FFB price at 1% BOER = [ (CPOp - C – TC - AC ) (BOER) + (PKp – AC )

(BKER) - (PC) ]
BOER
FFB price at 1% BOER = [(2,310 - RM13 - RM30) (21.00%) + RM1,819 (5.0%) -
(RM40)]
21.00%
= RM25.10

Step 2: Calculate the price of a consignment of

oil palm fruits as follows:
FFB consignment price = FFB price at 1%
BOER x GOER x FFB weight (tonnes)
= RM25.10 x 20.23% x 8
tonnes
= RM4,062.18
TERIMA
KASIH