Shorea robusta (Sal seeds) Oil Extraction Plant – Setup Opportunity with Global Market Demand

Shorea robusta – Seed & Forest Product Business Model

Overview

Shorea robusta, commonly known as Sal tree, is a dominant forest species in central India, especially Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Sal is highly valuable for its seeds, resin, leaves, and wood. Among these, Shorea robusta seeds are the most commercially important non-timber forest product (NTFP), used in food, cosmetics, and industrial sectors.

Shorea robusta seed oil and its derivatives are used in chocolates, soaps, cosmetics, and bio-industries. The business around Shorea robusta products is eco-friendly, sustainable, and tribal livelihood-supportive.

Business Opportunities Using Shorea robusta

1. Shorea robusta Seed Processing Unit

• Collection, drying, cleaning, de-shelling of Shorea robusta seeds

• Kernel extraction for oil production

• Supplying cleaned seeds & kernels to industries

2. Shorea robusta Seed Oil Extraction Plant

• Cold press or expeller method to extract oil

• Used in soap making, cosmetics, edible fats (after refining)

• High demand in chocolate & bakery industries as cocoa butter substitute

3. Shorea robusta Fat (Shorea robusta Butter) Production

• Further processing of crude Shorea robusta oil to produce Shorea robusta Butter

• Used in chocolates, creams, lotions, lip balms

• Natural emollient for personal care products

4. Shorea robusta Resin (Ral) Products

• Extraction of resin from tree bark

• Used in incense sticks, varnishes, and traditional medicine

• Marketed as natural binder in herbal formulations

5. Shorea robusta Leaf Plate & Bowl Manufacturing

• Collection & stitching of Shorea robusta leaves into eco-friendly plates & bowls

• Huge demand in catering, eco-conscious packaging, disposable tableware

• Excellent rural & women SHG business opportunity

6. Shorea robusta Wood & Timber Use

• High-quality hardwood for furniture, construction & railway sleepers

• Though timber harvesting is regulated, legal wood from plantations has demand

Unit Setup Guide (Shorea robusta Seed Processing & Oil Extraction)

1. Raw Material Sourcing

• Collection through tribal communities & forest cooperatives

• Seasonal availability (May-June for seeds)

2. Processing Infrastructure

• Seed drying platforms, cleaning & grading machines

• De-shelling & kernel extraction machines

• Oil expeller units for extraction

• Filtration & packaging unit for oil & butter

3. By-product Utilization

• Seed cake as organic manure or animal feed

• Residue used for biomass briquettes or bio-fertilizers

4. Land & Infrastructure

5. Requires storage space for seeds & finished products

5. Packaging & Branding

• Shorea robusta oil in bulk containers for industries

• Shorea robusta butter in jars/tubes for cosmetics

• Eco-friendly packaging for Shorea robusta leaf plates

Export Potential

• Shorea robusta fat (butter) is exported as Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE) to Europe & USA

• Used by chocolate & confectionery industries as cocoa substitute

• Exported under HS Code 151590 (Vegetable Fats & Oils)

• Shorea robusta leaf plates & eco-products have growing demand in eco-friendly packaging markets globally

• Shorea robusta resin (Ral) has niche export for incense & herbal medicine industries

Tribal & Rural Livelihood Impact

• Major source of income for tribal families in Bastar

• Promotes forest conservation through sustainable harvesting

• Women-led SHG units can earn through leaf plate making

• Integration with Van Dhan Vikas Kendra & Minor Forest Produce Federations

Required Certifications & Licenses

• FSSAI License (for edible oil & butter products)

• MSME Udyam Registration

• APEDA Registration for export

• ISO 9001 & ISO 22000 (Food & Quality Management)

• FDA Registration (for USA export of Shorea robusta butter)

• Organic Certification (optional for premium markets)

• Pollution Control Board NOC (for oil extraction units)

Marketing & Selling Strategy

• B2B partnerships with chocolate, bakery, and cosmetic industries

• Supplying to herbal & Ayurvedic product manufacturers

• Direct export of Shorea robusta fat to Europe & USA as CBE

• Online retail of Shorea robusta butter for skincare & cosmetic use

• Domestic market for eco-friendly Shorea robusta leaf plates

• Government tenders & institutional buyers for bulk orders

Final Business Advantage

• Shorea robusta seed oil & butter is a high-margin industrial product

• Supports tribal livelihoods & forest-based economy

• Eco-friendly, sustainable business with global market demand

• Opportunity for small-scale units to scale through processing clusters

Land Availability & Project Support:

"We offer complete support for your project, including ready-to-allocate land and comprehensive assistance at every stage — from setup to successful operations."

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