The item vanished from domestic grocery store shelves during the 1970s due to the rise of soybean oil. Nonetheless, it is still being produced in significant quantities in Brazil for export purposes, without undergoing refining.
Last year, the country shipped 152 thousand tons of crude oil, generating revenue of US$275 million, with China as the largest buyer. In 2018, exports were only 50 thousand tons, indicating substantial progress.
A liter of refined peanut oil costs between R$40 and R$70 in Brazil, making it a niche product for gastronomy or cosmetics. The exported oil is produced with non-compliant peanut grains, while the refined type is considered healthy, similar to olive oil, rich in vitamin E, omega 6, and fatty acids.
When heated, refined peanut oil degrades around 220ºC, preserving nutrients and making it suitable for frying without leaving a peanut smell or flavor.
CRAS Brazil, the leading exporter, shipped 31.2 thousand tons to China and Italy last year. This year, from January to September, it exported 22.19 thousand tons, increasing its market share to 28.47%. The company tripled its plant's production capacity, reaching 120 thousand tons, with a projected processing of 48 thousand tons this year, all for export.
Anticipated rains due to El Niño could benefit peanut crops, potentially avoiding conflicts between peanut producers and sugarcane mills in São Paulo.
CRAS, now purchasing only 40% of its volume from processing plants, diversified its suppliers, adding partner producers. The partnership includes leasing assistance, certified seed supply, technical support, and possible assistance with production costs.
Investing in new peanut varieties with earlier cycles, CRAS aims to reward partner producers choosing high-oil-content cultivars from 2025 onwards.
Besides peanut oil, CRAS also produces animal feed bran in Itaju, processing 45 thousand tons last year. The company's diverse operations, including soybean oil and meal, glycerin, beef tallow, electrical materials, and processed wood, earned R$447 million in 2022, with an 81.2% contribution from peanut oil and meal.
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