Unrefined Shea Butter, Grade A
Ivory to light cream, handcrafted by the same cooperative communities each season so quality stays consistent across shipments. The grade cosmetics and personal care formulators ask for first.
West Africa → United States
We know where it grows, and how to get it to your dock.
Akesan sources West African agricultural commodities — shea butter, sesame, hibiscus, ginger, cocoa and cashew — for manufacturers, refiners and wholesalers across the United States. We work with the cooperatives directly, and we carry the documentation that keeps a shipment moving.
Sourced at originCooperatives we know by name
DocumentedCOA, COO & phytosanitary
BondedContinuous customs bond on file
TraceableLot-level origin to delivery
What we source
A short list of things we know well
We would rather be the people who know a handful of West African crops properly than the people who quote anything that moves. Here is what we carry, and what we can tell you about it.
Nilotica Shea Butter
Vitellaria paradoxa ssp. nilotica from northern Nigeria. Softer, with a naturally lower melting point and a cleaner, less smoky odour profile.
Grades B & C
For industrial and high-heat applications where a darker tone and a different odour profile are acceptable, and where volume matters more than cosmetic grade.
How we work
Sourcing at origin is where most import programmes fall down
So it is where we put our time.
Cooperative sourcing, not open-market aggregation
We buy through established cooperatives and processing facilities across the West African growing belts — Kwara, Niger, Oyo, Benue and Kogi among them — which means traceable lots and stable quality rather than whatever was aggregated that week.
Documents that clear
Every consignment moves with a certificate of origin, a certificate of analysis and a phytosanitary certificate issued at origin, with FDA prior notice filed ahead of arrival.
Customs handled
We hold a continuous customs bond and clear through a licensed customs broker of record, so your name is never the importer on a shipment you did not arrange.
Supplier verification
Our suppliers are pre-screened for APHIS requirements before any purchase order is raised, and we keep foreign supplier verification records on file for every facility we buy from.
Beyond shea
The rest of the West African range
Grown across the same regions, moving on the same lanes. If it ships in a container and originates in West Africa, ask us.
- Sesame seed
- Hibiscus flower (roselle)
- Dried split ginger
- Cocoa beans
- Cashew nuts
- Tiger nuts
- Soybean meal
Send us a specification and we will quote to your dock.
Availability, grades on hand, container configuration and a delivered cost.