Buy Namibian marula, Kalahari melon and other natural oils from verified producers
Namibia's indigenous plant oils are sought by cosmetic and skin-care makers: marula kernel oil from the north-central regions, Kalahari melon seed oil, ximenia seed oil from the north-west, manketti (mongongo) nut oil from the north-east, and commiphora resin gathered in the Kunene region. Much of it is pressed by rural cooperatives. We verify who holds the permits and the paperwork, and we source for buyers at 4% of the FOB value.
What Namibia supplies
| Oils | Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) kernel oil, Kalahari melon (Citrullus lanatus) seed oil, ximenia (Ximenia americana) seed oil, manketti (Schinziophyton rautanenii) nut oil; commiphora resin and its essential oil |
|---|---|
| Process | Cold-pressed and filtered as standard; refined or deodorised grades from some processors on request |
| Volumes | Small-batch supply: from tens of litres to a few tonnes a year per oil, rising with forward contracts that let cooperatives buy kernels and seed in season |
| Season | Marula fruit in the late summer, roughly February to April; kernels are cracked and pressed through the year. Melon seed after the summer harvest |
| Packaging | Food-grade drums of 25 to 200 litres or IBCs, nitrogen-flushed on request; resin in lined bags |
| Shipping | Air freight from Windhoek for samples and small lots; sea freight from Walvis Bay as LCL for larger orders |
| Certification | EU organic and fair-trade from certified producers; certificates of analysis and safety data sheets per batch |
| Lead time | Two to six weeks for stock oil; longer for contract volumes pressed to order |
Specifications to write into the contract
- Certificate of analysis per batch: acid value, peroxide value, fatty acid profile and moisture
- INCI name stated on documents, for example Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil or Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
- Safety data sheet and allergen statement for your cosmetic safety file
- Organic certificate and transaction certificate for organic lots
- Cold-pressed or refined stated, with the filtration and any deodorisation described
- Export permit for indigenous plant products where the species requires one, and a certificate of origin for duty-free entry
How the price is formed
Price is quoted per kilogram or litre FOB Walvis Bay or FCA Windhoek, and depends on the oil, the grade, certification and volume. Forward contracts are cheaper and give producers the cash to buy raw material in season. Namibian oils enter the EU and UK duty-free with an origin declaration. We share current prices with each enquiry.
What we verify before you pay
- The producer's or cooperative's registration and its right to sell for export
- Permits for the harvesting or purchase of the raw material where the species needs one
- Organic and fair-trade certificates checked with the certifier
- A certificate of analysis from an independent laboratory for your batch, against your specification
- Drum labels, seals, batch numbers and weights at dispatch
How sourcing through Chrimson works
Send the specification, volume, Incoterm and timing. We match verified Namibian suppliers, share documented offers, and run the export paperwork for every consignment. Our fee is 4% of the FOB shipment value, invoiced when the export documents are handed over. Send a buyer enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy small quantities first?
Yes. Most cosmetic buyers start with samples and a lot of 25 to 200 litres by air. We arrange the sample, the certificate of analysis and the paperwork for the trial, then plan larger contract volumes.
Who handles EU cosmetics rules?
As importer, you handle your product safety file and any REACH duties. We supply what you need for them: certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, allergen statement, INCI name, origin and certification documents.
Is the oil fair trade or organic?
Some producers hold EU organic and fair-trade certification. We check certificates with the certifier before contract. If you need a certified lot, say so in the enquiry, because certified volumes are smaller.
Do benefit-sharing rules apply?
Buying oil as a finished ingredient is ordinary trade. If you plan research on Namibian plant genetic resources or use traditional knowledge in product claims, Namibia's Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act of 2017 may apply, and we will point you to the right office.
Why source through Chrimson?
We verify the producer, the permits and the laboratory work, match you with a producer who can meet your volume, and run the export documents. Our fee is 4% of the FOB value, invoiced when the documents are handed over.