Lampante Olive Oil & Pomace Oil — Industrial Use
What are lampante olive oil and pomace oil?
Lampante olive oil is a virgin oil (mechanical extraction) whose free acidity exceeds 2% or whose sensory panel shows overly marked defects (defect median > 3.5): it is not marketable as is and must be refined. Olive pomace oil is extracted by solvent from pomace (the residue of milling) and then refined. These two oils feed industrial refining and blending chains.
Zitouna Export supplies lampante and pomace in bulk ex Tunisia (Sfax/Radès), with a COA per lot, to refiners, manufacturers and traders. These are not table oils in their raw state: after processing they become refined olive oil, olive oil (a blend of refined + virgin) or olive pomace oil.
Lampante vs pomace vs virgin: the categories
| Category | Origin / extraction | Free acidity | Marketable raw | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra virgin (EVOO) | mechanical, cold | ≤ 0.80% | Yes (premium) | Table |
| Virgin | mechanical, cold | ≤ 2.0% | Yes | Table / industry |
| Lampante | mechanical | > 2.0% (or defects) | No | Refining |
| Refined olive oil | refining of lampante | ≤ 0.30% after refining | Yes | Blending / industry |
| Raw pomace | solvent, on pomace | — | No | Refining |
| Olive pomace oil | refined pomace (+ virgin) | ≤ 1.0% | Yes | Frying / industry / HORECA |
Thresholds according to the IOC/T.15/NC trade standard and EU regulations. To be verified per lot at COA.
For table categories, see extra virgin oil and virgin oil in bulk.
Refining: from lampante to usable oil
Lampante oil is not consumed as is: its high acidity and/or defects require industrial refining (neutralisation, bleaching, deodorisation, possible winterisation). Refining produces a neutral oil, with acidity ≤ 0.3%, which is then:
- sold as refined olive oil, or
- blended with virgin oil to give "olive oil" (the common trade category), generally with acidity ≤ 1%.
Pomace follows a similar logic: solvent extraction of the milling residue, then refining, then blending with virgin to obtain olive pomace oil (often used in frying and institutional catering for its controlled cost).
These oils are aimed at industrial buyers who are equipped (refiners) or at traders who supply these chains. They are not intended for premium bottling.
Quality control: purity and anti-fraud
For these categories, the COA mainly checks purity and the absence of fraudulent blending. Key parameters from an IOC-accredited laboratory:
| Parameter | Role | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Free acidity | classifies lampante (> 2%) | to be measured per lot |
| Stigmastadienes | trace of refined oil in a "virgin" | ≤ 0.05 mg/kg (virgin) |
| Waxes (C42+C44+C46) | trace of pomace in an olive oil | ≤ 150 mg/kg |
| K270 / ΔK | oxidation / refining (UV absorbances) | by category |
A COA per lot by an IOC-accredited laboratory is mandatory for Tunisian export (ONH analysis). Interpret your values with our COA quality classifier.
Formats & MOQ
Lampante and pomace are delivered in semi-bulk, like the other categories. Density ~0.913 kg/L.
| Format | Capacity | Per 20' container | Indicative MOQ | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexitank | ~22,000 L | 1 per 20' | 1 flexitank | Refiners, large industrial volumes |
| IBC | 1,000 L | ×20 | 2 IBC | Intermediate volumes |
| Drum | 200 / 216 L | ×40 | 10 drums | Test / laboratory lots |
See all export packaging formats.
Uses & target buyers
- Oil refiners — raw material (lampante, raw pomace) for refining.
- Food industry — frying oils, ingredients, ready meals (pomace, refined).
- HORECA / institutional catering — olive pomace oil for frying, at a controlled cost.
- Traders — arbitrage between origins and categories.
- Non-food industry — soap-making, cosmetics, oleochemistry (according to specifications).
Compare origins and prices on our comparison hub.
Buyer side / seller side
Industrial categories are negotiated as close as possible to the market price and the specification.
| Buyer side (refiner, manufacturer) | Seller side (exporter, trader) |
|---|---|
| Lock in the specification (acidity, purity, waxes/stigmastadienes at COA), index the price to the market, secure the incoterm (FOB/CIF) and the net weight per lot. | Quote as tightly as possible on a category sensitive to the market price, guarantee traceability, secure payment (deposit + balance against documents or confirmed LC). |
| CTA: request a quote | CTA: train in export |
Shared golden rule: the specification and the COA are authoritative — no container without a firm order or secured documents.
FAQ — Lampante & pomace olive oil
What is lampante olive oil?
Lampante is a defective virgin olive oil: its free acidity exceeds 2% and/or its sensory panel shows too many defects. It is not marketable as is and must be refined before entering consumption.
Can lampante oil be consumed as is?
No. Lampante oil is not fit for direct consumption: its acidity and defects require industrial refining. Once refined, it becomes refined olive oil, often blended with virgin.
What is olive pomace oil?
Olive pomace oil is extracted by solvent from pomace (the residue of milling), then refined and generally blended with virgin oil. It is mainly used for frying and institutional catering, for its controlled cost.
What is the difference between lampante oil and pomace oil?
Lampante is a virgin oil (mechanical extraction) that has become non-marketable; pomace comes from the milling residue, extracted by solvent. Both go through refining, but their origin and extraction process differ.
How is lampante oil refined?
Industrial refining chains neutralisation, bleaching and deodorisation (sometimes winterisation). It produces a neutral oil with acidity ≤ 0.3%, then sold refined or blended with virgin to form the common "olive oil".
What is olive pomace oil used for?
Mainly for frying (good heat resistance) and the food industry, as well as institutional catering. Certain grades also feed soap-making and oleochemistry depending on the specifications.
Do these oils have a COA?
Yes. Each lot is analysed by an IOC-accredited laboratory (ONH obligation for Tunisian export). The COA checks acidity and above all purity (waxes, stigmastadienes) to prevent any fraud. Interpret it with the COA quality classifier.
What is the price of lampante and pomace oil?
These categories sit below table virgin oils and follow the market price. The price depends on the specification, volume, incoterm and campaign. Request a dated quote.
What is the MOQ and which formats?
Indicative MOQ: 1 flexitank (~22,000 L), 2 IBC or 10 drums. The flexitank is the most suitable for refiners and industrial volumes. See the export formats.
Do you deliver refined olive oil or "olive oil" (blend)?
Yes, on request: refined olive oil and "olive oil" (blend of refined + virgin, acidity ≤ 1%), depending on specification and volume. Specify your needs in the quote request.
Are lampante and pomace available organic?
Refining and solvent extraction are incompatible with the organic specification for pomace; on the table side, prefer our virgin categories. For organic, see extra virgin and organic in bulk.
Which incoterm to choose?
For a first order, FOB (loading at Radès) is the standard; CIF includes freight and insurance to the destination port. Details on the incoterms guide.
Request your lampante / pomace quote
Category (lampante, pomace, refined, "olive oil"), specification, volume, format, incoterm, market: give us your needs and we will send you a dated quote and, if relevant, a reference sample with its COA.
Request a quote — drawer pre-filled with "Lampante / pomace".
Lead magnet: download our Guide to Olive Oil Export (IOC categories, purity & anti-fraud, incoterms, documentary checklist).
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