Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Product Profiles: Shea Butter


Description: Shea butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory colored natural fat extracted from the seed of the African shea tree by crushing and boiling. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and salve. Shea nuts are primarily grown in West and Central Africa in the semi-arid Sahel,referred to by traders as the "Shea Belt". Vitellaria paradoxa and Vitellaria nilotica are the two main varieties. Vitellaria paradoxa is exported in the largest volume and grows throughout the West African region. Vitellaria nilotica is produced primarily in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. Shea nut products, the solid fat (butter or stearin) and the liquid oil (olein), are ideal for use as raw materials in cooking oil, margarine, cosmetics, soap, detergents and candles, but it has found its primary market niche as a substitute for cocoa butter in the chocolate and confectionery industry.

HarvestShea nut trees grow widely and naturally in West Africa. They only begin to bear fruit after about 20 years and do not reach maturity for 45 years. They may continue to produce nuts for up to 200 years after reaching maturity.  The nuts, which are embedded in a soft fruit, fall to the ground during the harvesting period (typically June through August). They are then buried in pits which cause the pulp to ferment and disintegrate and produce enough heat to prevent germination. The nuts are dried for a few days and are later shelled and winnowed, usually by hand. The kernels are dried further to reduce moisture content from about 40 percent to about 7 percent.

Locations: Sheanut grows in the wild across the Sudan-Sahelian region of Africa. The major producing countries are: Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic. Nigeria is currently the leading producer of Sheanut in the world and in 2004 Nigeria's production of the commodity was 414,000 metric tonnes with export value of US$61.04 million (Source: FAO).  Shea butter is produced in Kwara State at Ode-Giwa in the Asa Local Government are and also in Minna area of Niger state in Nigeria. Other states include kogi, Oyo and Ogun state.

Specifications/Grades
Shea butter is graded based on a number of factors. For some buyers, It could be based on the percentage of the expected vital constituents present in the sample while some other buyers use the level of refining and contamination present as their criteria. Based on the percentage of the expected vital constituents present, Shea butter can be graded as shown in the table below;

Based on the level of refining done and contamination present, shea butter is now classified into five grades: A (raw or unrefined, extracted using water), B (refined), C (highly refined and extracted with solvents such as hexane), D (lowest uncontaminated grade), E (with contaminants). Commercial grades are A, B, C. The color of raw (grade A) butter ranges from cream (like whipped butter) to grayish yellow, and it has a nutty aroma which is removed in the other grades. Grade C is pure white. Grade A retains the most natural vitamins, especially vitamin A and vitamin E, which are partially lost in the other grades.

Uses
Traditionally, African shea butter is used for cooking oil, as a water proofing wax, for hairdressing and for candle-making; and also as an ingredient of medicinal ointments.

Industrially, shea butter is used in cosmetics production, such as moisturizer creams and emulsion, and hair conditioners for dry and brittle hair. It is also used by soap makers, typically in small amounts (5-7% of the oils in the recipe), because of its property of leaving a small amount of oil in the soap. Shea butter is also used as an ingredient in chocolate fillings.

Medicinally, Shea butter is used as a base for medicinal ointments, and has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties emollient and humectants. Shea butter has been claimed to be effective treatment for the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis.

New Commercial Uses
·         Shea based adhesives, resins, and composites
·         Shea Plastics and compounding
·         Shea conversion into chemicals, solvents, and fuels
·         Nutritional value and characterization
·         Total utilization of shea materials for new commercial uses

Export market: Shea butter is becoming increasingly popular as an ingredient in cosmetics and soaps, especially in France and the US. Major destinations for Nigeria's Sheanut are the EU and Japan while for the shea butter are Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Export PriceBuyers in Europe and the United States are quote FOB prices ranging from USD1,500-3,000/MT depending on the quality and quantity of product ordered) for unrefined shea butter from Abidjan, Accra or Lagos packed in 20 pound dark plastic sacks or 50 kilo dark plastic containers or coated steel drums.

Local price: The local market price of Shea butter per MT ranges from NGN180,000.00 to NGN250,000.00 to deliver it to Lagos during the season.

28 comments:

  1. sir, how much capital can i use to export shea butter, how many weeks will it take and like how much will my profit be? pls mail it to my mail box. opelola123@gmail.com. thanks and stay bless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello dele. Enjoyed yr article, very informative. I want to enquire more about the shea butter exportation. Can u send yr contact details to omoyeni21@yahoo.com. Thks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good work mr Dele,please i want to know which lab i can get the specification analysis of sheabutter done ,also how to go about getting an export license for the commodity ,am already a seller domestically .tanks

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  4. nice article what is being done to address constraints of shea butter producers in nigeria ,what are the potentials for shea butter production in nigeria

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  5. This constraint are being addressed at the shea butter production seminar being done yearly. Its left for individual producers to utilise the information gathered about the production of good quality shea butter to grow the market in Nigeria.

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  6. I like ur site.right now I'm looking for charcoal importers abroad,do you have any?
    I'm also interested in shea butter,capital,costs n buyers.
    Pls u can e mail me on chichiogolo@yahoo.com.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your post.
    We have sent the answers to all your requests to your email box.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Dele,

    Your article was very informative.

    I am interested in Shea Butter, costs, exporting etc.

    I would be very grateful for any information you could send me.

    Kind Regards

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for your enquiry. Kindly send
    your email address to us via this
    blog or to info@3timpex.com to enable
    us send the required info to you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey - I am certainly glad to find this. cool job!

    ReplyDelete
  11. hi Dele good work u're doing.Pls am interested in exporting shea butter but have zero knowledge. pls can u help with d cost,market and necessary details to depops4me@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mr Dele I found this article very educative. Interestingly I am in Niger state which is a major producing state although based in lagos . Can u kindly give details on the amount required to start exporting plus potentially buyers and seller.
    My email is waleflame@yahoo.com.
    Thanks.
    Wale bakare

    ReplyDelete
  13. Good day Mr Wale, we can provide all the
    requested info under our export information
    Service. Kindly subscribe for this service
    to enable us provide the requested information
    and any other export information you may
    need from us in the future.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. hello dear,
    just read thru ur blog and felt at home. very revealing and inspiring.please can u describe for me the full process of exporting shea butter. starting from getting a source here in nigeria, the cost of buying and transporting to lagos,the port to be used. how do you containerise shea butter for export? in bags or nylons ,in kilos or metric tons. i believe its the buyer that will give me the specification required. so how do i get a lab to confirm i get the required spec. i'll really appreciate if u can send these answers to peggyohanugo@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. hello dear,
    just read thru ur blog and felt at home. very revealing and inspiring.please can u describe for me the full process of exporting shea butter. starting from getting a source here in nigeria, the cost of buying and transporting to lagos,the port to be used. how do you containerise shea butter for export? in bags or nylons ,in kilos or metric tons. i believe its the buyer that will give me the specification required. so how do i get a lab to confirm i get the required spec. i'll really appreciate if u can send these answers to peggyohanugo@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. hello dear,
    just read thru ur blog and felt at home. very revealing and inspiring.please can u describe for me the full process of exporting shea butter. starting from getting a source here in nigeria, the cost of buying and transporting to lagos,the port to be used. how do you containerise shea butter for export? in bags or nylons ,in kilos or metric tons. i believe its the buyer that will give me the specification required. so how do i get a lab to confirm i get the required spec. i'll really appreciate if u can send these answers to peggyohanugo@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. In response to your requests, we have sent a mail to the ,mail box provided.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Dele Ayemibo,
    I will like inquire more on the full process of exporting shea nuts/butter. I will like to know the potential buyers and sellers as well. I will also want to get to know a source here in Nigeria, the cost of buying and transporting to lagos,the port to be used. how do you containerise shea butter for export? In bags or nylons ,in kilos or metric tons. i believe its the buyer that will give me the specification required. so how do i get a lab to confirm i get the required spec.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for your request, all your enquiries have been put in our e-Export Seminar pack to enable you have easy and quick access to export information in Nigeria.

    Kindly check the link below on our blog to get more info on this product http://exportnigeria.blogspot.com/2011/07/e-export-seminar.html

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Dele,
    I have an agent in Nigeria to source for Grade 1 sheabutter for US buyers, his name is Funsho and numbers are 0802 655 5877 and 0803 302 8909 and my email is toks@iitainc.com and phone +14042073981
    Kindly let us setup a system that works for regular procurement of grade 1 sheabutter for export.
    Thanks
    Dr. Toks

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Dele,

    Nice work you are doing here.

    I'm interested in exportation business and will like to kick start it by attending any of your seminars if there's one. Please send me all info that I need through bayotwo2@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for your post, the seminar details have been sent to your mail box.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Dele,

    Could you please send me at banzzzzni@yahoo.it the seminar details. I'm very interested!

    Thanks,
    ioana

    ReplyDelete
  24. Very impressive. We have a huge shea tree plantation here in Nigeria, how do we get linked to buyers of the produce outside Nigeria?

    ReplyDelete
  25. nice write-up .. kudos to you.. am interested in exporting shea butter ,please mail me details how to go about it . am very ready .. my e-mail soadebayo@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete