The first step in the export process is registering as an exporter. The tables below provide the neces- sary information required for businesses from Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo, that are interest- ed in exporting shea butter, shea kernels, and shea cosmetics to South Africa. A. Registering as an Exporter in Benin 1
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 to refine shea butter?
Crude shea butter obtained from the extraction process undergoes many refining steps. The process of how to refine shea butter begins with pretreatment and bleaching, which is followed by deodorisation and deacidification to obtain refined shea butter.
Where are shea nuts produced in Burkina Faso?
The Sissili and Ziro provinces are the most important production centres. Further, shea nuts are the country’s third most important export after cotton and livestock. Since both shea nuts and shea butter are exported in huge quantities from Burkina Faso, their quality is extremely important.
How to export Shea products (kernel and butter)?
www.globalshea.com To export shea products (kernel and butter), the exporters need to acquire specific documents related to collection, transport, and export of shea products. These documents need to be obtained from the Water and Forestry Directorate.
How are shea nuts processed?
Subsequently, the nuts are processed by boiling, roasting, or sun-drying. Boiling in water prevents the shea seeds from germinating and prevents hydrolytic degradation of the extracted shea butter. The boiled shea nuts are sun-dried, and then the dried shea nuts are cracked to obtain the kernels.