Project Overview
Paraguay's Chaco region produces high-quality groundnuts with excellent oil content and natural flavour characteristics — yet most Paraguayan peanuts are exported as raw commodity with minimal value addition. This Asunción food entrepreneur identified the premium opportunity: cold-press the Chaco peanuts into artisan peanut oil, bottle in premium glass packaging, and export to organic and specialty food stores in Buenos Aires and São Paulo via Mercosur's tariff-free framework.
The $30,000 budget constraint was a design parameter, not an obstacle. SinoOil configured a lean 10 TPD cold-press line with two 6YL-130 presses (cold-press configured), natural settling, plate filter, and a semi-automatic 500 ml glass bottling station. SENAVE certification and Mercosur export documentation were included.
Challenge
The primary constraint was budget: $30,000 total. The client needed food-grade certified, export-capable production within this limit. Cold-press peanut oil has no solvent, no chemical processing, and minimal equipment requirements — making it uniquely suited to low-capital entry. The challenge was achieving consistent cold-press quality (natural aroma retention, FFA <0.3%, no rancidity) at 10 TPD throughput with basic infrastructure.
The secondary challenge was market access: Paraguayan food products are relatively unknown in Argentine and Brazilian premium food retail. The solution was focusing on the "Aceite de Maní Premium Paraguay" branding and the Chaco origin story — Paraguayan Chaco is associated with quality agricultural products among South American food buyers.
Solution
Two 6YL-130 presses configured for cold-press speed (40 RPM, barrel temperature below 55°C throughout). Optional 60°C mild pre-warming for seeds with very low moisture (<6% MC), which improves oil flow without damaging natural compounds. Three 2-tonne SS304 settling tanks (72-hour natural settling) and a BASY-320 plate filter with SS304 plates complete the production line. The entire oil contact path is SS304 for food-grade compliance and easy cleaning.
The 500 ml glass bottling station fills and caps under the custom "Aceite de Maní Premium Paraguay" label designed for organic store shelf appeal. SENAVE food grade certification documentation and Mercosur export phytosanitary certificates were provided as part of the project package. Within 4 months of commissioning, the client had secured supply agreements with 15 Buenos Aires organic stores and 8 São Paulo specialty food retailers.