The kinetics of base-catalyzed transesterification of palm oil based on parameters such as oil and alcohol ratio, catalyst concentration and temperature were investigated to optimize the conversion rate. Our findings showed that both sodium hydroxide and sodium methoxide had high kinetic constants depicting fast formation of palm oil methyl esters with conversions above 99%. Fast formation of palm oil methyl esters with a rate constant of 0.163 litre mole min ^-1 was obtained when the reaction parameters were: molar ratio of oil to methanol, 1:10; catalyst concentration, 0.125 mole kg ^-1 oil; and temperature, 60½C