Shea butter is a vegetable fat extracted from the sun-dried kernels of the Shea tree Vitellaria paradoxa. For centuries, Shea butter has been called “Women’s gold” not only for its rich golden colour but also because it primarily provides employment and income to millions of women across the continent. Shea butter is non-toxic and edible, and can be used in cooking. But it is mostly used for cosmetic purposes. Many global companies use raw unrefined Shea butter to create products worth billions of dollars. As per the New Jersey, NJ, July 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) report, the global cosmetic Shea butter market is expected to grow from USD 2.245.96 Billion in 2017 to USD 3.821.65 Billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 6.02% during the forecast period from 2018–2025. High disposable income and rising consumer awareness are key driving factors of the cosmetic Shea butter market. Shea butter exports from West Africa garner between $90 million and $200 million a year, according to the New York Times. The demand comes not only from major corporations but also from millions of entrepreneurs who hope to make a fortune in the distribution of this “Women’s gold.” The UN Development Program (UNDP) estimates that an average of three million African women work directly or indirectly with Shea butter. The top Shea nut-producing countries in the world are; Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda.
WHY GHANA IS THE BEST COUNTRY TO IMPORT SHEA BUTTER FROM
For the sake of importation, the best country to go with is Ghana. The northern part of Ghana produces some of the highest quality unrefined Shea butter that the world has ever seen. Ghana is, politically, a shining example of democracy in Africa. After returning to democratic rule in 1992, the country still boasts of having the best democratic system in the continent. The political system has allowed for the formation of various political and economic think tanks and social organizations which give their views on the various government decisions and actions or inactions. Ghana is also an active member of both ECOWAS and the Africa Union (A.U.), with the past three presidents all serving as chairmen of ECOWAS. Ghana is a democratic country with a peaceful political atmosphere that supports general economic and social growth. It has very flexible legal frameworks that support business growth. Businesses in the area of production and exports are given various tax rebates to motivate their operations. With the right agents, you may get a kilo of premium quality Shea butter for as low as $6 (Which is way cheaper than prices on online websites worldwide). Discounts may be discussed if the purchase volume is high, let’s say from 500kg to 2,000kg. You’ll even get a lower quote if you contact me. With the right information, so many doors can be unlocked.
HOW IT IS MADE
The process of Shea butter production may be seen as a very long and difficult process. Ghanaian women are using traditional methods and almost the whole production process is made solely by hand, just like centuries ago. Women usually work together and help each other, which makes the work easier, more interesting and relaxed. They allow their kids to help out in the process as well and that is how the tradition passes down from generation to generation. Women in Ghana gather under a big tree outside compounds, where they can be protected from the often scorching sun and work from the early morning to the late afternoon. The only way of removing nutshells is to crack them with stones or other hard materials. Shea nuts are then washed again and dried under the sun. Afterward, nuts are broken into small pieces. In the past, women used to grind nuts with their hands, using a mortar and pestle.
Nowadays, with the advancement in technology, they mostly take them to the grinding machine which facilitates and speed up the process. Once nuts or flesh are crushed, they are roasted on a fire. That is why the final product has a pleasant roasted scent. Roasted fragments are then taken to the grinding machine again, wherewith a special process, thick paste is obtained. After this process phase, the most delicate part follows.
Women put paste in big basins, sit in shadow and churn the paste with one hand. Water is added gradually, most often by kids who are supposed to help their mothers. Women churn the heavy paste for at least an hour, until butter oil separates from water. Afterward, butter oil is carefully removed and put into a bowl of boiling water under low fire. When butter oil melts under the high temperature, women scoop off the oil that floats to the top of the bowl.
The liquid is then strained to remove all the unwanted impurities and put into big basins. These basins have to be saved in a cool and dark place for a minimum of half a day. That is done to ensure that the oil becomes thick and ready to use and sell. From this point, additional processing of the Shea butter may occur, but out of women’s Shea butter cooperatives. Shea butter is sometimes filtered to remove possible impurities. Also, with the further purification, like cleaning and bleaching, its smell, composition, and colour are eliminated.
This kind of butter is called refined Shea butter and has no smell and a typical white snowy colour. In Ghana, women make yellow and ivory coloured shea butter. These are the two main types of raw unrefined Shea butter. The only difference is in colour. Although the yellow coloured shea butter is very bright which makes it unnatural on the first sight, it does not mean it is not natural. Some people prefer the ivory one, others find yellow Shea butter more attractive. You can buy bulk Shea butter from Ghana in different types: ivory and yellow. Ivory unrefined Shea butter is a light beige coloured with a nutty aroma and the yellow Shea butter one is a bright yellow coloured due to added natural bark and roots of medical borututu tree extract in the production process.
Both types of Shea butter have a specific scent which means that our Shea butter is unrefined and no chemical process was done afterward. The usual packaging of unrefined Shea butter is 25kg (55lbs or 1.85oz) per box. You can leave a comment below if you’re interested in purchasing some from Ghana.
USES/BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER
Shea butter can be used for many important purposes such as;
- Hair treatment products for damaged and dry hair.
- Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle creams.
- Face and body-moisturizing creams.
- After-sun products and skin treatment after sunburn.
- Stretch mark prevention products during pregnancy.
- Hair treatment for dry scalp.
- Shaving and aftershave creams to reduce skin irritation.
- Creams to ease muscle fatigue and pain;
- Treatment products for insect bites and stings;
- Baby care products against diaper rash.
- It can fight skin-infections caused by fungi.
- It helps promote cell regeneration.
- It helps relieve arthritis pain
- And many more (feel free to research).
These benefits of Shea butter come from its chemical makeup. Shea butter contains:
- Linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic fatty acids, ingredients that balance oils on your skin.
- Vitamins A, E, and F, antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth.
- Triglycerides, the fatty part of the Shea nut that nourishes and conditions your skin.
- Cetyl esters, the waxy part of the Shea nut butter that conditions skin and locks in moisture.
EUROPEAN DEMAND
The demand for Shea butter in the European cosmetics market is growing. Shea butter is used mainly in skin care and hair care products because of its properties. This growth is driven by rising consumer awareness of Shea butter and the consumer demand for natural cosmetics. Shea butter has unique properties and its widening availability makes it a favourite choice of cosmetic companies. European consumers are willing to pay more for high-quality personal care products, especially those with natural/organic ingredients. The growth of Shea butter is driven by a growing demand for natural cosmetics on the European market. This trend is expected to continue in the future. The CBI Trends report gives details on the opportunities in the sector of natural ingredients for cosmetics. The most attractive countries for Shea butter exporters are considered to be France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and Denmark. These countries are the leading importers of vegetable oils in Europe. Countries such as Germany, France, and Italy have large markets for conventional as well as natural cosmetics. One must not forget the Asia, India, and American markets.
EXPORT FROM GHANA INFORMATION
* Ghana exported a total of US$ 90 million worth of Shea butter and its derivatives (circa 55,990 tons) to 24 countries in 2018, up from US$ 69.4 million in 2017. The value represents 9th in terms of global ranking of countries that exported products under the sector in the spotlight.
* Malaysia was the largest market destination for Shea butter from Ghana, with imports of about USD 31.9 million of the product. The countries with the least imports (US$1,000 each) were France, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South Africa
* Other notable importers of Shea butter from Ghana include Denmark (USD 23.72m), Belgium (USD 13.53m), the Netherlands (USD 11.8m), India ( USD 3.64m)
* Malaysia, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and India put together, absorbed about 93.8% of the total Shea butter exported by Ghana.
* Whilst exports from Ghana to the world grew by an average of 30% between 2017 and 2018, exports from Ghana to Malaysia grew by an average of 6% over the same period; Denmark (203%), Belgium (30%), the Netherlands (-30%) and India (307%).
* In 2018, Malaysia’s global importation of the products under consideration amounted to US$83.54 million With Ghana emerging as the largest supplier to the Malaysian market. Other suppliers to the Malaysian market included Singapore, Togo, India, and Germany.
Buy Raw Shea Butter Wholesale from Ghana for the Cheapest Price
Are you looking for wholesale unrefined Grade-A Shea butter from Ghana? Are you looking for price estimates involved in the entire process? Estimates on Logistics from the north where it is produced, to the south, where the ports are, Cost of employing workers, accommodation, storage among many others? Leave a comment below
We deal directly with the farmers in the north. No middlemen, 100% trust guaranteed. We also have packages that cover the entire cost of transporting your premium quality raw Shea butter to the port side. For shipment quantities as low as from 500kg to 1000kg you may get 1kg of premium Shea for $6, which covers the transportation process to the port. You’ll pay for shipping. Compared to prices you see on websites such as Alibaba, Amazon, Walmart, etc. This is a steal.
Worldwide shipping! Get in touch for an informational request to find out more!
Originally published at http://midasthoughts.wordpress.com on August 1, 2020.
