Starting a Small Scale Soya Oil Plant

Building a soybean oil production line involves setting up a series of connected machines that take raw soybeans and turn them into crude oil and a valuable high-protein meal. This is a complete system, often called a soybean oil processing plant. The process can be broken down into three main parts: pre-treatment, extraction, and refining. We are Fude Machinery, a factory-direct manufacturer of oil processing equipment. We design and install these complete production lines. This guide will explain each stage so you understand how to build your own profitable soybean oil extraction machine line.

Due to its health-related benefits, global consumption and demand for soybean oil are increasing. The global soybean oil production in a 2023 year was 54.29 million tons. It is expected that its production will further increase every year in the future. That’s why investing in soybean oil manufacturing business is an excellent opportunity for investors to earn huge income.

Equipment Required to Set up A Small Soybean Oil Mill Plant

The soybean oil extraction production line is a fully automated edible oil processing system integrating raw material pretreatment, pressing/leaching, refining, and filling/storage. It converts soybean raw materials into high-quality soybean oil meeting national standards through physical or chemical methods, and is widely used in small and medium-sized oil mills, medium-sized processing plants, and large oil and fat enterprises.

• Pre-treatment Section
• Cleaning: Remove soil, sand, stones, and metallic impurities through screening, air separation, and magnetic separation equipment to ensure raw material purity (impurity content ≤0.1%).
• Crushing: Break soybeans into 4-6 pieces, controlling powder content (≤10% passing 20-mesh screen) to prevent clumping or oil leakage.
• Softening: Adjust moisture content to 10.5%-11.5% at 55-65°C using a softening kettle to enhance elasticity and plasticity.
• Rolling: Roll into thin flakes ≤0.35mm thick, requiring low powder content and no oil leakage.
• Steaming and Roasting: Use a closed steaming and roasting pot to reduce flake moisture to 1.5%-2.8% and raise temperature to 100-110°C, promoting protein denaturation and enhancing oil yield.
• Pressing Section
• Soybean Oil Press: The screw rotates to advance the oilseed, generating heat through friction under high pressure, which breaks down the colloidal structure. Oil then flows out through the discharge slots.
• Advantages: Physical pressing preserves nutrients, achieving an oil yield of 18%-20%, making it suitable for premium oils.
• Refining Equipment Section
• Degumming: Add hot water or electrolyte solution to remove colloidal impurities such as phospholipids.
• Deacidification: Neutralize free fatty acids through alkali refining or distillation using a 12%-13% alkali solution.
• Decolorization: Adsorb pigments using activated white clay at oil temperatures ≤105°C and operating pressures of 2.5-4.0 kPa.
• Deodorization: High-temperature steam distillation (≤230°C) removes off-odor components, operating pressure ≤0.4 kPa.

Oil Press Configuration – Customizable

Cost of Establishing a Small Scale Soybean Oil Mill Plant

The cooking oil manufacturing plant cost for soybean oil depends on several different factors. The main factors include the plant area, the number of workers and their salaries, the number of machines, and the cost of raw material. The cost of land for a small scale soyabean oil mill will not be very high. You can have cheaper land if you buy/rent it in a rural area. The main thing that will consume most of the budget will be soybean oil mill machines. Generally, the cost of establishing a mini/small scale small scale soybean oil plant ranges from $3,000 to $55,000.

Application Markets for Soybean Oil

As one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils globally, soybean oil finds extensive applications across multiple sectors due to its rich nutritional profile, moderate cost, and excellent processing properties.

• Stir-frying, deep-frying, and other high-heat cooking: Soybean oil has a relatively high smoke point (around 446°F/230°C), making it suitable for Chinese-style high-temperature cooking methods such as stir-frying and deep-frying (e.g., fried chicken, French fries). It helps maintain food crispiness while minimizing the production of harmful substances.
• Baked goods: Used in the production of cakes, cookies, bread, etc., to provide a crispy texture and extend shelf life.
• Margarine/Shortening: Soybean oil is converted into solid fat through hydrogenation, used for cake coatings, cream fillings, etc.
• Seasonings: Serves as the base oil for soy sauce, salad dressings, mayonnaise, etc., enhancing flavor and stability.
• Rich in unsaturated fatty acids: Contains approximately 85% unsaturated fatty acids (such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid), which help lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diseases.
• Source of vitamin E: A natural antioxidant that delays oil oxidation while protecting cells from free radical damage.

Consumer preference for oils low in trans fats and high in unsaturated fatty acids is driving growth in the non-GMO and cold-pressed soybean oil markets. With its versatility and affordability, soybean oil has become an indispensable resource in modern life, holding significant potential for future applications in health foods and green energy sectors.

Planning the Soybean Oil Press Business

Building a successful soybean oil production line requires a clear plan. The process starts with a complete pre-treatment line to prepare the beans. Then, you must choose the right extraction method based on your capacity: mechanical pressing for smaller scale or solvent extraction for large, industrial scale. Finally, the crude oil must be refined to create a valuable, edible product. The soybean meal produced is also a major source of revenue.

Your first step should be to analyze your intended production volume and your target markets for both the oil and the meal. Then, you can decide which type of soybean oil extraction machine line is the right investment for you.

About Us

We are Fude Machinery, a professional B2B oil processing equipment manufacturer based in Zhengzhou, China. As a factory-direct enterprise, we provide globally competitive turnkey solutions for our customers worldwide. From pretreatment lines to extraction units (including pressing and solvent extraction processes), and even complete refineries, we offer full-process design and installation services. Our equipment has earned the trust of customers in numerous countries worldwide, empowering your business success with our specialized expertise.

Contact our expert team at Fude Machinery today. We are here to provide a professional consultation and a detailed quotation for your project.