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  • 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 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.
  • Does shea butter need solvent extraction?
  • For these reasons, solvent extraction is generally not preferred for shea butter extraction—especially in food and cosmetic markets where consumers seek natural, organic ingredients. What is shea oil? Traditional water extraction, mechanical expeller pressing, and solvent extraction yield shea butter.
  • 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.
  • How much oil is left behind in a Shea?
  • This inefficient, inexpensive extraction method leaves about 23% of the fat behind, only yielding about 35% of the oil. 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.
  • How is shea butter fractionated?
  • Once refined, shea butter can be fractionated into two parts: a creamy fat known as shea stearin and a liquid oil called shea olein—otherwise known as shea oil. Fractionation separates these two unique components using either a chemical reagent or physical methods like centrifugation.