A Complete Guide to Starting a Profitable Avocado Oil Business

We’ve all seen it everywhere, haven’t we? That bottle of vibrant green avocado oil sitting on the shelf, looking all healthy and premium. It’s no longer just a niche product for foodies; it’s become a staple in our kitchens and an ingredient in skincare. It’s a trend that’s clearly here to stay.
And I remember when I first noticed it, I looked at that bottle and thought, “There’s a real opportunity here.” We see the demand growing, and we start wondering what it would take to get in on the action. The thing is, turning avocados into high-quality oil is a lot more achievable than we might think. I believe it’s a smart business move in a booming market.
So, that’s what we’re going to explore. We’re going to pull back the curtain on what it takes to start an avocado oil production business. We’ll cover what makes avocado oil so popular, look at the market trends, and then get into how the oil is extracted. By the time we’re done, we should have a clear plan for breaking into the avocado oil market.

What Is Avocado Oil?

Avocado oil is an oil extracted from the flesh of avocados, which can be used for cooking or cosmetics. Unlike most plant oils that come from seeds, avocado oil is actually pressed directly from the fleshy pulp of the fruit. Which is exactly the point. It’s what gives the unrefined version that beautiful emerald-green color and its signature buttery, mild flavor that people love. It’s basically the essence of the avocado in a bottle.
But what’s really inside? Well, it’s packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats—pretty much the same good stuff found in top-quality olive oil. It also contains a good amount of antioxidants and vitamin E, which are major selling points for health-conscious consumers. It’s a simple, natural product that hits all the right notes.

And here’s where it gets really interesting from a producer’s view. One of its biggest market advantages is its incredibly high smoke point, around 500°F. It means it can be cooked at very high temperatures—think searing, roasting, and even frying—without it breaking down and creating smoke. This single feature makes it far more versatile than many other popular oils, broadening its appeal.
On top of that, it has multiple uses. The refined versions have a neutral taste, making them a perfect substitute for basic vegetable oils in baking. In my experience, the cold-pressed, extra virgin oils carry that rich, nutty flavor that makes them a premium gourmet product for dipping and drizzling. I’ve also seen a growing market for it in cosmetics. Talk about a multi-purpose product. So, avocado oil isn’t just another cooking oil on the shelf. It’s a versatile, healthy, and highly marketable product with a ton of growth potential.

What Is Avocado Oil
What Is Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil Market Analysis.

So, we’re probably wondering if there’s any real money to be made with avocado oil. Is this just a passing fad, or is it a stable market we can build a business on? Well, I’ve been looking at the numbers, and the story they tell is pretty impressive.
Let’s break it down. The avocado oil market is already valued at over USD 652 million and is set to rocket past USD 1.1 billion by 2035. That’s a steady growth rate of about 5.5% every year. It’s not some wild, unpredictable boom; it’s a solid, consistent expansion. The bottom line is, demand is strong and getting stronger. The biggest markets right now are North America and Europe, where consumers are all about healthy, natural products. In my experience, trends that take hold there often have a ripple effect globally.

Here’s the thing: the demand isn’t coming from just one place. We’ve got the food industry, which is still the largest user. Big food companies are adding avocado oil to everything from dressings to snacks because it’s stable and has that “healthy fat” halo. But the fastest growth? That’s actually coming from the wellness and cosmetics world. Clean beauty is huge, and avocado oil is a star player in natural skincare, with the personal care segment growing at a healthy 6.5%. People want simple, plant-based products, and this oil fits the bill perfectly. Which is exactly the point.
And how are people buying it? More and more, they’re going online. Online stores are the fastest-growing sales channel, expanding at around 7% yearly. For a producer just starting, this is a huge advantage. We don’t need to get into big-box retailers right away; we can build a brand and sell directly to customers who are already looking for our product. Speaking of which, the Hass avocado is king here—it’s the variety most producers use because of its consistent quality and high oil yield.
So, this isn’t just a market; it’s a collection of several booming markets rolled into one. We have gourmet food, everyday cooking, and natural cosmetics all driving demand for the same product.

How to Extract Avocado Oil?

So, we see the potential in avocado oil, and many of us think about producing it ourselves. The first question that usually comes up is, “How do I even get started?” I know it can seem like a complex process, but when we break it down, it’s basically a series of logical steps. And with the right equipment, turning fresh avocados into liquid gold is more straightforward than many might initially think.
Let’s walk through the entire journey, from fruit to bottle, using the cold-press method. This method is what produces that high-quality, nutrient-rich extra virgin oil that commands the best prices.

Selecting and Preparing the Avocados

Everything starts with the quality of our raw materials. I mean, we just can’t make great oil from bad avocados, right? We’re looking for ripe avocados, but not mushy ones. Once we have a batch, the first job is cleaning them thoroughly to remove any dirt, leaves, or pesticides. And honestly, who’d want any of that in their final product? For larger batches, a machine like a fruit washer can handle this efficiently, ensuring every avocado is ready for the next stage.

Destoning and Deskinning

Next, we need to get to the good stuff—the pulp. The pit and skin contain compounds that can affect the flavor and quality of the oil, so they have to go. This can be done by hand for very small batches, but for any real production volume, a destoning and pulping machine would be very useful. It separates the soft pulp from the pits and skins without a fuss. What is left with is a pure, green avocado mash, kind of like a giant bowl of guacamole.

Grinding and Malaxation.

Now that we have our pulp, the goal is to start breaking down the plant cells to release the oil. This process is called malaxation. Basically, the pulp is gently and slowly churned in a specialized mixer. This isn’t about high-speed blending; it’s a slow, temperature-controlled process that allows tiny oil droplets to clump together, making them easier to extract.

Cold Pressing.

Here’s where the magic happens. The prepared avocado paste is loaded into a hydraulic press. Cold pressing is key here—it means we’re extracting the oil without using heat, which preserves all the delicate flavors, aromas, and nutritional benefits. A hydraulic oil press, like our popular (Multifunctional vertical hydraulic Cold oil press machine), applies immense pressure to the pulp, literally squeezing the oil and water out. This is a huge selling point for health-conscious consumers. You can proudly label your oil as “cold-pressed,” and that means something.

Premium Hydraulic Oil Press:

Experience professional-grade cold pressing with our hydraulic oil press systems. Designed specifically for high-quality avocado oil extraction, these machines maintain optimal temperatures to preserve nutritional value and natural flavors. Our hydraulic presses deliver superior yield rates while ensuring gentle processing that retains the oil’s premium characteristics. Whether you’re starting a small artisanal operation or scaling commercial production, our hydraulic press collection offers reliable performance and consistent results for your avocado oil venture.

Separating the Oil and Water.

What comes out of the press is a mix of oil, water, and some fine solids. Since oil is less dense than water, they will naturally separate, but waiting for that to happen isn’t very efficient. To speed things up and get a really clean separation, we use a Centrifugal Oil Filter. You know, it’s a machine that spins the liquid at high speed, using force to separate the layers. A machine like the (Edible oil filter machine centrifugal oil filter) will remove small particles in the oil by high speed spinning without using a filter cloth. The result is beautiful, unrefined avocado oil.

Filtering.

The oil we have now is almost ready, but it might still be a little cloudy with tiny pulp particles. For a crystal-clear final product with a longer shelf life, a final filtration is a good idea. Running the oil through a plate filter press, such as our (Cast iron plate frame Oil Filter Press Machine), removes any remaining sediment, leaving us with a polished, professional-grade oil that looks amazing in the bottle.

Easy to Use cooking oil filter machine.:

Achieve crystal-clear, premium-grade avocado oil with our comprehensive filtration solutions. Choose from centrifugal separators, vacuum filters, plate-and-frame filter presses, pneumatic filtration units, and refining equipment based on your specific purification needs. These advanced systems remove impurities, moisture, and sediments while maintaining oil integrity. Our filtration technology ensures your cold-pressed avocado oil meets the highest quality standards, delivering the pure, golden oil your customers expect from premium products.

Bottling and Packaging.

Finally, it’s time to bottle our beautiful avocado oil. Because light and air are the enemies of fresh oil, it’s best to use dark glass bottles. For producers looking to expand, the proper use of automated bottling lines ensures each bottle is properly filled, capped, and sealed, protecting the product and ensuring it’s ready for shelf life.

And just like that, we’ve turned a crate of avocados into a premium, in-demand oil product. It’s a process, for sure, but each step has a purpose, and having the right machinery makes all the difference.

Small Farm vs. Medium-Sized Avocado Processing Plant.

I know what you’re thinking. That all sounds great, but what does a real-world setup actually look like? The thing is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Our ideal production line, actually, depends entirely on our goals, our budget, and how much oil we plan to produce. Let me share two different scenario cases with you, which will help us understand the situation more clearly.

I’ve worked with a small Mexican family-run avocado farm. They’ve got a few acres of beautiful Hass trees and want to start making their own artisanal, cold-pressed oil. The owner, Jose, told me that his goal isn’t to supply a national chain; it’s to sell a premium product at local farmers’ markets and maybe through a small online store. His brand is all about that farm-to-bottle story. For him, a huge, fully automated system would be overkill. He’d probably start with the basics: a good fruit washer, a small semi-automated de-pitter, and the star of his show—a compact but powerful hydraulic press. The rest of the process would be pretty hands-on. He might let the oil and water separate naturally over a day before running it through a small filter press. His operation is driven by passion and quality, not massive volume. Labor is his main input, but the scale makes it manageable.

Also in Mexico, it’s about a different business I’ve worked with. Sam owns a medium-sized company and he wants to supply regional health food stores and build a solid e-commerce brand. His goal is consistency and volume. He can’t afford bottlenecks or variations between batches. So, his setup would look quite different. He would invest in a more connected production line.

Samd processing plant washing and sorting avocados

  • The first is an industrial-grade fruit washing machine, which feeds the fruit directly into an automated machine for core removal and pulp removal.
  • From there, the oil paste is sent to a hydraulic press, and the oil produced flows directly into a centrifugal oil filter for rapid separation.
  • A refinery machine is also needed to improve the quality of oil. For example, Industrial edible oil refining machine is suitable for oil mills that targeting premium oil products.
  • He would also have an automated bottling and labeling line to get his product ready for shipment quickly. For him, the initial investment is higher, but the increased efficiency and lower labor cost per bottle make it a smart business move. It’s all about creating a reliable, scalable system.

You see, it’s not about buying the biggest machines. It’s about building a system that fits our specific dreams. We know the right equipment is what turns a vision into a profitable reality, whether we’re talking about the artisanal farmer or the growing commercial producer. I’d encourage us to think about where we see ourselves on that spectrum.

How to Boost Your Avocado Oil Yield?

Okay, so we’ve learned the basic steps to make avocado oil. But here’s the next big question I always get: how do we get more oil out of each and every avocado? After all, those fruits aren’t cheap, and every drop of produce adds to our bottom line. The difference between an amateur setup and a professional one often comes down to a few key details.
The thing is, it’s not about working harder; it’s about working smarter. The avocado variety, ripeness, moisture content after crushing, cleanliness, and pressing process all determine how much avocado oil we can obtain. With some simple and practical adjustments, it is possible to significantly increase yields without sacrificing cold-pressed quality.

  • Not All Avocados Are Created Equal:
    And here’s something else I’ve learned—the type of avocado matters. A lot. We all know the popular Hass avocado, which is great. But there are actually hundreds of different kinds, and they all have different oil levels. For example, varieties like Fuerte and Bacon are also common, but their oil content can be quite a bit lower than a Hass. This selection process is a key first step, because starting with a high-oil variety means we’re already set up for a much better yield. It’s just smart planning, really.
  • Pick the Right Avocado at the Right Time:
    The ripeness of the avocado makes a huge difference in how much oil we can get. It’s kind of like trying to get juice from an unripe orange; it just doesn’t work well. When an avocado is still young and growing, it’s mostly full of water. As it gets older on the tree, the water content drops and the healthy oil content goes way up. So, we need to be patient. We have to wait for the avocados to reach the right maturity before picking them. They won’t all be ready at the same time, so it takes a bit of experience to know which ones are perfect for pressing.
  • Clean Screening:
    This might seem obvious, but honestly, I am often quite surprised by how many overlook this. The thing is, one has to make sure it’s only pulp being pressed. Any bits of leaf, twig, stone, dirt, or skin that make their way into the press? They’re like tiny sponges—they’ll just soak up the oil folks are trying to extract. In my experience, taking the time to properly screen that pulp before pressing can really increase the final yield noticeably. A clean start, well, that usually means a much better finish.
  • Control the Moisture in the Pulp:
    Did you know that avocado pulp is about 65% water? If press the fruit as-is, a lot of the precious oil gets trapped and goes to waste. The solution is to gently pre-dry the pulp before pressing. Think of it like reducing a sauce to concentrate its flavor, remove water to concentrate the oil by using a low-temperature oven or a dehydrator. Just be sure to keep the temperature below 50°C (about 122°F) to maintain that all-important “cold-pressed” status.
  • Master the Pressing Temperature:
    Here’s a detail that really separates the pros. Even when “cold-pressing,” a little bit of warmth can be handy. Getting the pulp to just the right temperature—still well below that 50°C limit—can make the oil less thick and help it flow more freely from the fruit solids. It’s a delicate balance. Too cold, and the oil stays trapped. Too hot, it loses quality. Finding that perfect sweet spot is key.
  • Adjust Press Settings:
    With a hydraulic press, it’s not about brute force. Many beginners think they just need to crush the pulp as hard and fast as possible. But the best way is actually a slow, steady squeeze. This gives the oil molecules time to separate and flow out. Think of wringing out a wet sponge. A quick, hard twist leaves water behind, but a slow, firm, continuous squeeze gets almost all of it out. That’s what we want our press to do, and our machines are built to give us that fine-tuned control.
  • Keep the Equipment Spotless:
    This is a simple one, but it’s so important. Leftover pulp and oil residue can build up inside the press and filters. This not only risks contaminating the next batch but also physically blocks the flow of oil. A clogged filter means less oil getting through. So, regular, thorough cleaning isn’t just about hygiene—it’s a direct part of keeping our production numbers up.

Boosting avocado oil yield isn’t about one single secret. It’s about consistently applying these smart methods. Nail these steps, and you’ll find yourself producing more high-quality oil from every single batch you run.

Extraction MethodTypical Oil Yield (% of oil from pulp)What You Need to Know
Cold Pressing36% – 70%This is the go-to for top-quality extra virgin oil. The yield isn’t the absolute highest, but able to get a premium product that keeps all its flavor and nutrients. This is our focus.

The main takeaway? For the high-quality market we’re targeting, Cold-pressed avocado oil is the champion. A great balance of a solid yield with a top-tier product that customers will pay more for.

Have questions about starting an avocado oil business?

Contact us today to receive a technical white paper and free technical guidance to start profiting.

FAQ

Yes, cold pressing is the go-to method for producing top-quality extra virgin avocado oil. The thing is, this process doesn’t use high heat, which means you’re preserving all the natural flavor and nutrients. This becomes a major selling point for health-conscious consumers and justifies a premium price for your final product. Which is exactly the point.

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