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| How to process shea butter for the
local and international market
The Shea tree is a perennial crop, predominantly found in the
West and the Eastern regions of Africa. A Shea tree takes a
considerable period of 11 to about 15 years before it starts to
bear fruits but can remain productive for more than 200 years.
The fruit is usually 5 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width. It is
elliptic and yellow or green with a thick butter-like material.
The mucous pericap has a seed in it which is oval or round in
shape.
The shea butter production business involves the cultivation,
harvesting, processing, and marketing of the shea nut into shea
butter. Shea butter is derived from the nuts of the shea tree,
which is scientifically known as Vitellaria paradoxa. The shea
tree is indigenous to several countries in West Africa,
including Nigeria, and is commonly found in the savannah and
Sahel regions.
shea butter currently grows in the wild in many states including
Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa, Benue, Edo,
Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Borno and Oyo. It
grows side by side with food and cash crops, and it is widely
exploited by the indigents in the area it grows.
Shea butter is used mainly in the food industry (accounting
for about 90% of total use, according to the Global Shea
Alliance). This is especially true of the confectionary and
beverage industries where it widely used as a cocoa butter
substitute. And since it is edible, an increasing number of
homes now use it in their cooking. Shea butter is also very
important to the cosmetics industry. It is used in the
production of beauty products
Shea butter produced in Nigeria has a very good quality and is
abundant in quantity, especially during the peak period (June –
November). This availability of the raw produce helps
international buyers get it at a competitive price. There is a
very large demand for agricultural produce in Nigeria, with many
international buyers always looking for products that are cheap
and are of the best quality.
Eight major exporters of dry shea kernel are Benin, Burkina
Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Togo. About
250,000 to 350,000 T of dry shea kernels are exported by these
countries across the world. In 2020, Nigeria produced about
450,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts, with an estimated value of
over $300 million. Nigeria accounts for almost 60 per cent of
the world’s supply of Shea nuts and Shea butter . Nigeria
generates about $3.8 billion every year from shea butter
exportation
Shea butter is highly sought after in the global market,
especially in Europe, North America, and Asia, for its use in
cosmetics, skincare, and hair care products. The global shea
butter market size was valued at $1.39 billion in 2020 and is
projected to reach $2.74 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of
9.0% from 2021 to 2028.
Each type of shea butter has its unique characteristics, which
can determine its end use in different industries. As such,
understanding the different types of shea butter and their
qualities is crucial for any entrepreneur in the shea butter
production business in Nigeria and Africa.
Starting a shea butter production business requires hard work,
dedication, and proper planning. With the right strategy, you
can grow your business and take advantage of the growing demand
for shea butter both locally and internationally. Get our Shea Butter exportation business resource information, you can explore the various opportunities at the International market after getting our life changing information.
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