Refined Sunflower Oil

Refined sunflower oil is a light, clear cooking oil with a neutral taste and a high smoke point. Sunflower is the main oilseed of central Tanzania, grown around Singida and Dodoma, and of northern Uganda.

Packing options

• Bottles — 1 litre, 3 litre and 5 litre PET bottles in cartons.
• Jerrycans — 10 litre and 20 litre.
• Bulk — flexitank, drums or IBC totes.

Private label

Buyers who want their own brand on the bottle should send the label artwork and the labelling rules for their market with the inquiry.

Why East African sunflower oil

Tanzania is one of Africa’s largest sunflower seed producers, and most of the crop is grown by smallholder farmers in the central regions without irrigation. Seed is pressed close to the farms and then refined, bleached, deodorised and winterised so the oil stays clear in cool storage. Refiners in the region supply both the home market and neighbouring countries, which keeps lead times short for buyers in East and Central Africa.

Who buys it

• Wholesalers and distributors in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, Zambia and Malawi, by truck or in containers.
• Supermarkets and private-label brands that want bottled oil with their own label.
• Hotels, restaurants and caterers that buy 20 litre jerrycans for frying.
• Food manufacturers making snacks, bakery products and sauces, often in bulk.
• Importers in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean islands by container.

Health and cooking qualities

Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E and polyunsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. Its neutral taste and high smoke point make it suitable for frying, baking, salad dressings and general cooking. High-oleic sunflower oil, with better frying stability, can be sourced on request.

Refined Sunflower Oil specifications

Typical values for our standard export lots of refined sunflower oil are listed below. Every lot is sampled and tested before loading, and the certificate for your shipment shows the actual results. If your market or process needs a tighter limit, tell us when you ask for a quote.

Packing, loading and minimum order

The minimum order for refined sunflower oil is 1 × 20ft FCL, or 5 MT for regional delivery. Standard packing: PET bottles in cartons, jerrycans, drums, IBC totes or flexitank. A 20ft container takes Flexitank: approx. 21–22 MT · Packed: approx. 18–20 MT, and a 40ft container Packed: approx. 24–26 MT, depending on packing and the weight limits of the shipping line. Cargo is loaded at our base in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania or at the nearest port to origin, with photos of the loading and container seal sent to you the same day. Private labels, buyer-supplied packing and mixed loads with other products from our catalog can be arranged on larger or repeat orders.

Quality checks and inspection

Each batch is tested for free fatty acid, moisture and impurities, peroxide value and colour, and the certificate of analysis goes with the documents. Bottles and jerrycans are checked for seals, fill weight and label details, and flexitanks are inspected before filling. Independent inspection by SGS or another company you nominate is available.

Export documents supplied

Each shipment travels with the documents your customs broker needs to clear the goods:

• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Certificate of analysis
• Certificate of origin
• Health or food safety certificate
• Halal certificate on request
• Bill of lading

Storage and shelf life

Oils are stored away from heat and light in sealed containers, and filling is planned close to the shipment date. Unopened packs keep their quality for twelve to eighteen months when stored cool and dry, and the batch and best-before date are printed on every pack.

What affects the price

Our refined sunflower oil prices are quoted per order. Edible oil prices follow world vegetable oil markets, so offers are valid for a short period. The price depends on the oil and grade, pack size, quantity, the price basis (EXW, FOB or CIF), the destination and the payment terms; bulk flexitank loads cost less per tonne than packed oil.

How to order

1. Send an inquiry with the grade, quantity, destination and preferred price basis, using the form or WhatsApp button on this page.
2. Receive an offer with availability, price, shipment date and payment terms, and request samples if you need them.
3. Sign the contract, agree the inspection and arrange payment, usually a letter of credit or a deposit with the balance against documents.
4. Track the shipment with loading photos, the container number and copies of all documents before the original papers are sent.

Questions about refined sunflower oil that are not answered here? Our trade desk replies with details and current prices.

Related products and buyer resources

• Browse all Edible Oils in our catalog.
• Buyers of this product also ask about Refined Palm Oil, Refined Soybean Oil and Used Cooking Oil (UCO).
• See when each crop is available in the East Africa harvest calendar.
• Shipping to Asia and the Middle East? See our export guide for Asia and the Middle East.
• Price terms are explained in EXW, FOB or CIF; payment and inspection in our trade terms.

Further reading

Background and trade standards: sunflower oil (Wikipedia) and FOSFA oils and fats contracts. Contract terms follow the ICC Incoterms® rules.