Palm oil, one of the most consumed vegetable oils in the world, has a processing industry with significant economic value in Southeast Asia and Africa. For small-scale enterprises planning to enter this field, clarifying the investment cost of processing machines is a key part of project initiation. This paper will be from the equipment configuration, production scale, market price fluctuations and other dimensions, analyze the small-scale palm oil processing plant equipment investment costs.
I. Equipment Configuration and Cost Range
The core equipment of small-scale palm oil processing plant includes fruit removal machine, cooking and killing fermentation tank, crusher, oil press, filter and refining equipment. According to the different processing capacity, the cost of equipment shows significant difference:
Basic equipment: suitable for small-scale plant with daily processing capacity of 0.5-2 tons, configured with fruit removal machine, 500kg/h double screw oil press and plate and frame filter, costing about 300,000-600,000 RMB. This kind of equipment has simple structure and is suitable for start-up enterprises or family workshops.
Standard equipment: for medium-sized factories with daily processing capacity of 1-5 tons, it needs to add killing fermentation tank, mashing tank, rotary vibrating screen and other links, costing about 800,000-1.5 million yuan. This configuration can realize continuous production and improve the efficiency of oil production.
Customized equipment: If you need to process special raw materials or pursue higher quality, you can customize the hulling machine, low-temperature pressing equipment, etc., and the cost may exceed 2 million RMB. This kind of equipment is usually used in high-end market or special process demand.
Second, the analysis of cost drivers
Production scale: the cost of equipment is positively correlated with the processing capacity. For example, the unit price of 500kg/h oil press is about 50,000-100,000 RMB, while the unit price of 10 tons/h equipment may exceed 500,000 RMB.
Technical parameters: oil yield, residual oil rate and other indicators directly affect the selection of equipment. High-precision rotary vibration sieve, plate and frame filter can reduce the residual oil rate, but will increase the initial investment.
Brand and origin: imported equipment (such as Germany, Italy brand) price is 30% -50% higher than domestic equipment, but durability and stability is better.
Supporting facilities: steam boilers, oil storage tanks, sewage treatment systems and other auxiliary equipment requires an additional investment of 100,000-300,000 yuan.
Third, the market price fluctuations and investment strategy
Raw material costs: palm fruit prices are affected by the season, climate and the international market. 2025 global palm oil imports are expected to increase to 44.6 million tons, but the main producing areas to increase production may lead to short-term fluctuations in raw material prices.
Energy cost: Cooking and pressing consume a lot of electricity and steam. It is recommended to choose energy-saving equipment, such as double motor reducer crusher, which can reduce energy consumption by 15%-20%.
Policy risk: some countries implement environmental standards for palm oil processing, need to set aside 100,000-200,000 yuan for wastewater treatment equipment upgrades.
Fourth, the return on investment cycle measurement
Take the factory with a daily processing capacity of 2 tons as an example:
Initial investment: equipment + site + working capital of about 1.2 million – 1.8 million yuan.
Operating costs: labor, electricity, raw materials and other daily average expenditure of about 5,000 yuan.
Output benefits: according to 26% oil yield, the daily output of palm oil is about 520 kg, the market price of gross oil is about RMB 8,000-12,000/ton, and the premium of refined oil is 20%-30%.
Return cycle: under the condition of stable raw material and stable market price, the return cycle is about 2-3 years.
V. Risk Control Suggestions
Technical Verification: Prioritize suppliers that provide trial machine services to ensure equipment and raw material suitability.
Supply chain management: sign long-term purchase agreements with plantations to lock in raw material prices.
Diversification: Develop palm kernel oil, biodiesel and other by-products to enhance profit margins.
The investment cost of small-scale palm oil processing plant is affected by multiple factors, but a high return on investment can be achieved through reasonable selection, optimization of process and refined management. It is recommended that investors fully investigate the local market, policies and raw material supply before making decisions, and select equipment suppliers with technical strength to reduce operational risks.
gao
Henan Zhongrui Grain is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, development, manufacture and sales of oil press equipment, and has been deeply engaged in the field of oil processing for more than ten years. The company integrates design, production and testing, and its products cover screw oil press, hydraulic oil press, automatic refining production line, etc., which are suitable for rapeseed, peanut, soybean, sesame and other oilseeds, and help customers to realize efficient, energy-saving and environmentally friendly oil and grease production.
