Around 1.5 million tons of rice bran oil are produced globally every year. This process produces a considerable amount of an interesting byproduct: crude rice bran wax. However, despite significant amounts of rice bran wax being produced worldwide, industrial adoption remains low.

Many companies default to using petrochemical waxes such as paraffin wax in manufacturing, missing the benefits and potential of natural waxes such as rice bran wax. This underutilized wax offers technical performance benefits, eco advantages, and an impressive cost/efficiency profile.

What Is Rice Bran Wax and Crude Rice Bran Wax?

Rice bran wax is a byproduct of refining rice bran oil. Rice bran oil is an edible oil extracted from the outer layer of rice grains. It is a popular cooking ingredient, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. It is also a useful ingredient in skincare products and natural cosmetics due to its moisturizing and skin-smoothing properties.

Rice bran wax is a solid, pale yellow crystalline wax. It has a relatively high melting point of 75–80 °C (167-176 °F) and is primarily comprised of palmitic and oleic fatty acids and long-chain alcohols. It has a brittle texture and a low needle penetration value, meaning it is a fairly hard wax. Its acid value is 1 to 12 mg KOH/g, and its saponification value is typically in the range of 75-90 mg KOH/g.

Crude rice bran wax is simply the unrefined and unprocessed form of rice bran wax. Crude wax is darker in color and contains more impurities.

What Are the Key Characteristics and Core Technical Benefits of Rice Bran Wax?

Rice bran wax offers excellent thermal stability thanks to its narrow melting range. This ensures consistent viscosity control in industrial rice bran wax applications. It is an excellent wax-based release agent for plastic and rubber molding due to its lubricity and low coefficient of friction.

This versatile material is compatible with a wide range of formulations. It forms stable emulsions in aqueous systems and blends seamlessly with both polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) waxes. It is also biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly solution compared to petrochemical waxes, and both USDA-certified and REACH-compliant.

What Process Efficiency Gains Does Rice Bran Wax Offer?

If you are looking to enhance your process efficiency with wax, rice bran wax is a great option. Because it melts at a lower temperature than synthetic waxes, using rice bran wax can reduce energy consumption, save money, and contribute towards sustainability goals. As a highly renewable resource, it can reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes by up to 80%.

Due to the time it saves as a release agent in molding, it can allow manufacturers to achieve a faster throughput and greater productivity.

In addition, rice bran wax creates less buildup on tools and machinery than many alternative waxes. This reduces the maintenance burden on manufacturers and extends equipment service intervals.

Rice Bran Wax Supply Chain, Market Growth, and Cost Considerations: A Market Overview

The majority of rice bran wax is sourced from countries in Asia and Latin America. However, it is also manufactured globally. It has experienced significant market expansion in recent years.

Seasonal rice harvesting can impact the availability and cost of rice bran wax. Local and global events, from extreme weather to geopolitical issues, can also impact the rice bran wax supply chain and market dynamics. In general, however, it is readily available and gaining popularity. Suppliers are responding to consumer preferences, the regulatory landscape, and the global shift towards more environmentally friendly solutions by adding natural waxes such as rice bran wax to their catalogs.

Compared to many other waxes, including paraffin wax, rice bran wax has a relatively high raw materials cost. However, the benefits it offers, from efficiency gains to environmental advantages, can outweigh this cost increase, making it a more cost-effective choice in the long term. For example, one of our clients, OEM, cut scrap by 15% by switching to a rice bran wax blend. Therefore, when you are performing a rice bran wax cost analysis, don’t forget to include your potential efficiency gains in this calculation. 

At IGI, we utilize a carefully selected network of suppliers audited for quality, environmental responsibility, and ethical labor practices. We are committed to offering competitive pricing and reliable availability amidst the growing demand for this sustainable alternative wax.

The rice bran wax market was valued at around $215 million globally in 2024 and is expected to rise to $325 million by 2033. Key findings that point towards this incredible market growth during this forecast period include the rise of rice bran wax in the personal care sector, the importance of the food industry, and recent developments towards sustainable practices in multiple industries. North America and the Asia-Pacific region are the two biggest global markets for rice bran wax.

Industry Applications: From Food to Personal Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Beyond

Rice bran wax has an impressive array of applications and is becoming increasingly widely utilized across numerous industries thanks to its sustainable profile and functional benefits. In this section, we will look at some of the ways that this eco-friendly alternative wax is being used.

Coatings & Inks

Rice bran wax is used in the paints, inks, and coatings industry as an alternative to materials such as carnauba wax and montan wax. Its glossiness, smooth texture, and hardness make it ideal for these applications. It is also utilized in paper coatings and corrosion-resistant topcoats, as well as products such as car interior coatings, shoe polish, and electric insulation coatings.

Rubber & Plastics

Due to its low coefficient of friction, rice bran wax is increasingly used in the rubber and plastics industry. It is used as an automotive wax-based release agent and an anti-block/slip in film extrusion, among other applications.

Cosmetic Grade Rice Bran Wax and the Personal Care Industry

With consumers increasingly seeking natural and organic ingredients, cosmetic grade rice bran wax is a popular alternative to other waxes for vegan, sustainable, and natural products in the beauty and personal care industry. Rice bran wax is used in cosmetic products such as balms, lotions, creams, and hair care formulations to create a smooth and creamy consistency. It is also used as an opacifier in cosmetics and is prized for its stabilizing properties.

Food Grade Rice Bran Wax

Food grade rice bran wax can be used as an ingredient, a coating, a thickening agent, or a texturizer in various food products. It is used as a coating for fruits and vegetables to increase their shelf life, a plasticizer in chewing gum, and to improve the structure and body of high-oil products such as margarine and shortening. In the US, it is an FDA-approved additive for use in the food industry.

Industrial Grade Wax and Industrial Rice Bran Wax Applications

In manufacturing, rice bran wax finds use in various applications, such as industrial coatings and sustainable lubricants. It can also act as a nucleating agent in the production of biopolymers and thermoplastics.

Candles

Though it is not yet widely used in candle making, rice bran wax is slowly gaining traction as a hardness modifier in candles. It can also extend the burn time of candles and provide a brighter and more consistent flame.

The Pharmaceuticals Sector

In the medical and pharmaceutical space, rice bran wax is used as a stabilizer or an excipient (a non-active ingredient that lends bulk or consistency to the product) in many tablet and ointment formulations. It is also an ideal lubricant in tablet manufacturing.

Understanding and Making Use of Rice Bran Wax

Manufacturers looking to make use of rice bran wax in their processes must understand the nuances of this useful and versatile material. Your rice bran wax cost analysis may show promising results, but do you know how to select and use this material properly to achieve those savings? 

Selecting the correct grade of wax for your application and utilizing it effectively is key to enjoying its many benefits. Bleached rice bran wax is generally preferable for food and cosmetic-grade applications, while industrial-grade wax tends to be found in unbleached form.

Understanding some key processing tips can also help you maximize the potential of rice bran wax. For example, experts have found that for some applications, pre-melting the wax can result in a higher-quality finished product. Observing the recommended shear rates for processing rice bran wax for your particular application is also important.

Finally, manufacturers must take the time to perform quality control checks on their finished products. Measurements such as penetration and rheology testing can ensure that your rice bran wax is performing as expected and allow you to make any necessary modifications to your formulations before bringing them to market.

The Future of the Rice Bran Wax Industry

We expect that, in the coming years, the rice bran wax market will continue to grow significantly. Increasing environmental awareness, the shift towards renewable resources, and consumer preferences for eco-friendly alternatives and plant-based waxes are all fuelling the growing demand for natural wax products.

We expect that rice bran wax will become more readily available and more affordable as wax suppliers capitalize on these growth opportunities in this emerging industry.

At IGI Wax, we are committed to meeting the rising demand for natural waxes, sustainable solutions, and raw materials such as rice bran wax. From food applications to industrial uses and beyond, we can help you with all of your wax requirements and assist you in enhancing your process efficiency with wax. To learn more, check out our extensive catalog of wax products or contact our team.