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  • How many raw shea nuts are produced in Africa?
  • Africa produces approximately 1,760,000 metric tons (MT) of raw shea nuts a year, and historically, most of this stayed within the African continent to supply domestic demand. The shea export market traditionally traded raw shea kernels rather than shea butter or other finished products.
  • How are Uganda shea nuts processed?
  • We process Uganda shea nuts by simply de-husking them. This involves the cutting out of the outer fruit, which leaves a few seeds inside. We then transfer these to wire-mesh in the sun for drying. This ensures there is proper removal of impure particles. The nuts can either undergo roasting or are packed raw.
  • What is the shea butter export market?
  • The shea export market traditionally traded raw shea kernels rather than shea butter or other finished products. However, as shea applications have evolved and processing methods have improved, shea butter exports have increased as producing countries invest in more advanced equipment.
  • Where does a shea tree grow?
  • Although it only grows in a limited swath of sub-Saharan African parklands, the wild shea tree supplies the entire world with enough shea nuts to meet the growing demand for both shea oil and shea butter.
  • How is shea oil extracted?
  • As a result, many shea producers are adopting more mechanized solutions to improve quality and yield. Larger processors use mechanical extraction equipment to recover more oil efficiently. Screw press expellers physically crush the shea kernels to squeeze out shea oil from the solid meal, which exits the expeller as a cake.
  • How much is the Global Shea market worth?
  • Today, the global shea market represents an estimated value of $2.75 billion, which is set to double within the next ten years to exceed $5.5 billion by 2033. Africa produces approximately 1,760,000 metric tons (MT) of raw shea nuts a year, and historically, most of this stayed within the African continent to supply domestic demand.