Modern soybean oil processing plant interior in Nairobi Kenya, row of stainless steel screw oil presses operating, clean factory floor, workers in white uniforms, bright industrial lighting, East African manufacturing
50 TPD Soybean Oil Processing Plant in Kenya
Commercial-scale soybean oil line in Nairobi — 6 screw presses with a 5T/batch full refinery, KEBS-certified output, and the "Safari Fresh" brand now listed in three Kenyan retail chains.
Project Overview
Kenya imports more than 80% of its edible oil — predominantly refined palm olein and soybean oil from Malaysia and Indonesia. A Nairobi food company with strong existing retail relationships saw a strategic opportunity: as import costs rose with Kenya shilling depreciation, local oil processing had become commercially viable for the first time at meaningful scale.
The company's target was to replace their entire imported soybean oil supply (9 TPD) with own-processed oil, launch the "Safari Fresh Soybean Oil" brand into the retail market, and reduce input cost by at least 30% versus imported refined soybean oil price.
SinoOil designed a semi-automatic 50 TPD line with six 6YL-180 screw presses — the higher-capacity version specified for soybean's lower oil content (18–22%) compared to peanut or sunflower. Running all six presses simultaneously, the line achieves 50 TPD throughput with 18.4% oil yield. A 5T/batch full refinery (degumming, neutralizing, bleaching, deodorizing) produces KEBS-standard refined soybean oil. Automated oil transfer pumps and batch tracking records are included for KEBS certification documentation.
The soybean meal (press cake) is an important co-product: with 40–45% protein content, it is a premium livestock feed ingredient. The Nairobi company supplies soybean meal directly to commercial poultry farms in Kiambu County, creating a significant additional revenue stream that materially reduces the effective cost of soybean input.
Six months after commissioning, the "Safari Fresh Soybean Oil" brand is listed in three major retail chains. The 45-day order-to-delivery timeline from SinoOil's factory — including sea freight and Mombasa port clearance — was a key operational success factor, enabling the company to plan its market launch with confidence.
Process Flow
Seed-to-KEBS-compliant soybean oil: 6-press extraction + full batch refinery.
Equipment List
15-item machinery list for the 50 TPD Nairobi soybean oil line with full batch refinery.
| # | Equipment | Model | Qty | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soybean cleaning screen | TQLZ80 | 1 | Removes stones, dust, and foreign matter |
| 2 | Magnetic separator | TCXT32 | 1 | Tramp metal removal before cracking |
| 3 | Soybean cracker/flaker | YP-600 | 1 | Cracks and flakes beans to increase surface area for pressing |
| 4 | Steam conditioner | LYZF1.0 | 1 | Steam conditioning to optimize oil cell rupture before pressing |
| 5 | Bucket elevators | TDTG65/18 | 3 | Vertical material movement between stages |
| 6 | Screw oil press | 6YL-180 | 6 | ~8–9 TPD each soybean; total 50 TPD line capacity |
| 7 | Plate filter press | BASY-500 | 2 | 500L each; crude soybean oil clarification |
| 8 | Crude oil storage tanks | — | 3 | 5T each carbon steel; buffer storage |
| 9 | Batch degumming vessel | DG-5000 | 1 | 5T batch hot-water + citric acid degumming |
| 10 | Neutralizing vessel | NT-5000 | 1 | NaOH neutralizing, FFA reduction to <0.3% KEBS standard |
| 11 | Vacuum bleaching vessel | BL-5000 | 1 | 1.0% bleaching earth for soybean oil colour standardization |
| 12 | Leaf filter (bleaching earth separation) | NF-30 | 1 | Spent earth removal post-bleaching |
| 13 | Deodorizing vessel | DO-5000 | 1 | Steam stripping at 220°C, 4 mbar vacuum; neutral odour KEBS standard |
| 14 | Automated oil transfer pumps | — | 4 | Automated inter-stage transfer with batch tracking log |
| 15 | Refined oil storage + polishing filter | — | 4+1 | 10T SS304 tanks ×4 + 5-micron polishing filter for bottling |
Results
Key results from the first 6 months of commercial operation at the Nairobi plant.
"We launched our 'Safari Fresh Soybean Oil' brand 6 months ago and it is already in 3 major retail chains. Processing our own oil in Nairobi was the right strategic move. The 45-day delivery timeline meant we could plan our retail launch with confidence — and the KEBS certification process was straightforward with SinoOil's quality documentation."— CEO, Nairobi food company, Kenya | March 2024
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View all Africa projects →Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers on Kenya soybean oil market, KEBS standards, soybean sourcing, and investment analysis.
What is the soybean oil market like in Kenya?
Kenya imports over 80% of its edible oil requirements, primarily refined palm olein and soybean oil from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Uganda. The edible oil market is valued at over KES 60 billion annually. Soybean oil is the fastest-growing segment, driven by health-conscious consumers preferring its polyunsaturated fat profile. Local production is minimal — creating a significant opportunity for Kenyan edible oil manufacturing. Rising import costs and Kenya shilling depreciation have made local processing increasingly competitive since 2022.
What are the KEBS standards for edible soybean oil in Kenya?
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) standards for refined soybean oil (KS EAS 38) specify: FFA (as oleic acid) maximum 0.3%, moisture maximum 0.1%, peroxide value maximum 10 meq/kg, iodine value 120–141 g I₂/100g, saponification value 188–195. The oil must be free from mineral oil, rancidity, and adulterants. KEBS certification requires laboratory analysis of each production batch and annual factory audits. Our Nairobi plant was designed and commissioned with KEBS compliance as a primary requirement.
What is the oil yield of soybean in a screw press?
Soybean oil yield from screw pressing is typically 14–20% by weight of whole bean input. Soybeans have relatively low oil content (18–22%) compared to peanuts (42–52%) or sunflower (38–50%). The Nairobi project achieved 18.4% yield on imported Brazilian soybean. Solvent extraction achieves higher yields with lower residual oil in cake, but requires larger investment and is suited to plants above 100 TPD. For 50 TPD, screw pressing is the practical and cost-effective choice.
What is the payback period for a 50 TPD soybean oil plant in Kenya?
A 50 TPD soybean oil plant in Kenya with semi-automatic pressing and full batch refinery costs approximately $150,000–$200,000 including CIF Mombasa, installation, and commissioning. At current Kenya retail soybean oil prices and a 35% input cost advantage over imported refined oil, the estimated payback period is 30–42 months. Payback is sensitive to: soybean import price (from Uganda or global markets), Kenyan retail oil price, and plant capacity utilization (target: 85%+).
Where can I source soybeans for an oil plant in East Africa?
Soybean sourcing options for East Africa oil mills: (1) Uganda — the region's largest producer, with significant surpluses from Eastern Uganda; transport to Nairobi via the Kampala-Nairobi highway; (2) Tanzania — growing production in Mbeya, Iringa, and Ruvuma regions; (3) International import — Brazilian or Argentine soybean via Mombasa port; typically competitive for large-volume buyers. Kenya's own domestic production is limited. The Nairobi project uses a mix of Ugandan and imported Brazilian soybean, selecting on price and quality quarterly.
Launch Your Own Soybean Oil Brand in Kenya
50 TPD soybean oil lines from $150,000 CIF. KEBS compliance documentation. 45-day delivery to East Africa. Free plant design consultation.