What Sonacos does

Sonacos (Société nationale de commercialisation des oléagineux du Sénégal) is Senegal's state-owned national oilseed enterprise, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Dakar. The company operates across the full oilseed value chain — collection, processing, refining, and commercialization — anchored by a network of seven industrial establishments (Dakar, Louga, Diourbel, Kaolack, Ziguinchor, Kolda, Tambacounda) plus an intermediate reception center, placing processing capacity directly inside the country's major peanut production basins. Its core technology is oilseed processing and refining, certified under ISO 9001 and HACCP, producing refined peanut oil, refined vegetable oil, crude peanut oil, Hand Picked Selected (HPS) peanut kernels for export, protein-rich peanut meal for livestock feed, and biomass-grade peanut shells.

The company's revenue model is built on diversified product sales across multiple consumer and industrial SKUs. Consumer brands Niani (premium refined peanut oil) and Niinal (light vegetable oil) are sold in 1L, 5L, and 15L formats through retail distribution nationwide. Industrial and bulk channels are served by the Arador 20L refined vegetable oil and Sunu Diw 20L peanut oil brands, alongside B2B sales of crude peanut oil to refiners and food manufacturers. HPS peanut kernels are exported to international markets, while byproducts — peanut meal (tourteaux d'arachide) for livestock feed and empty shells for biomass or soil amendment — round out the revenue mix. Customer segments span households, HORECA professionals, industrial manufacturers, livestock farmers, and export buyers.

Under Director General El Hadji Ndane Diagne (2024–2026), Sonacos executed a record collection cycle of 200,000 tonnes and deployed approximately 70 billion CFA francs into the economy, while modernizing production tooling and reactivating regional industrial units. The company maintains strategic financial relationships with ITFC and BOAD, regional cooperation with Gambia Groundnut Corporation, and an active corporate social responsibility program. As of 2026, Director General Diagne announced his resignation, introducing a leadership-continuity variable into the ongoing turnaround.

Name

Sonacos

Legal name

SONACOS (Société nationale de commercialisation des oléagineux du Sénégal)

Website

https://sonacos.sn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sonacos is Senegal's state-owned national oilseed enterprise, founded in 1975, that collects, processes, and refines peanuts across eight industrial sites, producing refined peanut and vegetable oils (Niani, Niinal), industrial/bulk oils, HPS peanut seeds for export, and livestock feed byproducts for households, HORECA, manufacturers, and livestock farmers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Edible Oils and Oilseed Processing

NAICS

Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122), Peanut Farming (111992)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Peanut (Groundnut) Farming (AFAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Palm Oil Milling, Refining & Fractionation (AFAKAEAB)

Keywords

• Peanut oil processing
• Oilseed refining
• Vegetable oil production
• Agro-industrial manufacturing
• Animal feed byproducts

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Refined Peanut Oil Sales: Sale of refined peanut oil under Niani and Niinal brands in various formats (1L, 5L, 15L) for household and professional use
2. Industrial and Bulk Oil Sales: Sale of refined vegetable oil in 20L formats (Arador, Sunu Diw) for industrial and professional markets
3. Peanut Seed Export: Export of Hand Picked Selected (HPS) peanut seeds for international markets
4. Animal Feed Sales: Sale of peanut meal/cake (tourteaux d'arachide) for livestock feed
5. Crude Oil B2B Sales: Sale of virgin crude peanut oil for refining or industrial uses
6. Biomass and Byproducts: Sale of empty peanut shells for energy (biomass) or agricultural use (mulching, soil amendment)

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sonacos (Société nationale de commercialisation des oléagineux du Sénégal) is Senegal's state-owned agro-industrial company that collects, transforms, and commercializes oilseed (peanut) products. It produces and sells refined peanut oil under the Niani brand, vegetable oil under the Niinal brand, industrial and bulk oils (Arador, Sunu Diw), Hand Picked Selected peanut seeds for export, and derivative products including peanut meal/cake for animal feed, crude peanut oil for B2B refining, and empty peanut shells for biomass energy.

Product overview

SONACOS (Société nationale de commercialisation des oléagineux du Sénégal), formerly Suneor, operates as Senegal's leading agro-industrial company specializing in the collection, transformation, and commercialization of oleaginous products. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized into four main sub-brands: Gamme Niani (premium refined peanut oil in consumer and professional formats ranging from 1L to 15L), Gamme Niinal (light vegetable oil for everyday cooking and HORECA), Industriel & Vrac (industrial and bulk products including Arador 20L, Sunu Diw 20L, and export-grade Hand Picked Selected peanut kernels), and Produits Dérivés (coproducts including peanut meal for livestock feed, crude peanut oil for B2B refining, and empty peanut shells for biomass energy applications). The company maintains industrial presence across key production regions including Dakar, Louga, Diourbel, Kaolack, Ziguinchor, Kolda, Tambacounda, with headquarters in Dakar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Niani: Refined peanut oil range available in 1L, 5L, and 15L formats for household and professional use.
• Niinal
• Arador
• Sunu Diw

Products and services

• Niani 1L Premium refined peanut oil in practical 1L format for daily cooking, rich in taste and nutritional benefits, targeted at individual household consumers.
• Niani 5L Family-size format of refined peanut oil, ideal for large families and regular use, positioned as a top-selling consumer product.
• Niani Seau 15L Economical bulk 15L bucket format of refined peanut oil for professionals and large occasions, delivering the Niani quality at higher volumes.
• Niinal 1L Light and digestible vegetable oil suitable for frying and seasoning in a practical 1L format for everyday household cooking.
• Niinal 5L Best-selling vegetable oil in 5L format offering excellent value for everyday family cooking, frying, and seasoning applications.
• Niinal Seau 15L Professional-format 15L vegetable oil for the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HORECA) sector requiring large volumes.
• Arador 20L High-quality refined vegetable oil in 20L format for demanding industrial and professional applications, including food manufacturing and processing operations.
• Sunu Diw 20L Authentic Senegalese-flavored oil in bulk 20L format targeting knowledgeable consumers and local bulk market segments.
• Graine d'Arachide HPS Hand-selected peanut kernels (Hand Picked Selected) for export and direct consumption in international markets.
• Tourteaux d'Arachide Protein-rich livestock feed coproduct derived from peanut oil extraction, essential for cattle and livestock feeding operations.
• Huile Brute d'Arachide Virgin crude peanut oil obtained by pressing, intended for refining or specific B2B industrial uses.
• Coque d'Arachide Vide Empty peanut shells valorized as biomass energy or for agricultural applications such as mulching and soil amendment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 billion CFA francs injected into the economy from 2024 to 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered regional, minor, community and internal.

• GGC (Gambia Groundnut Corporation)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026SONACOS welcomed an important delegation from sister Republic of The Gambia, composed of members of the parliamentary commission in charge of agriculture and GGC management. Indicates regional cooperation in the peanut/oilseed sector.
• SOCOCIM IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Director General of SONACOS conducted a visit to SOCOCIM Industries, indicating inter-industry relations and potential collaboration.
• Association Bien-Être Scolaire (BES)communityStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SONACOS, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (RSE) Service, partnered with BES to fund the complete renovation of École élémentaire Cité SEIB in Diourbel. Community development partnership.
• Section Syndicale des Travailleurs de la SONACOS SAinternalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Syndical section collaborating with RSE Service and Association des Femmes de la SONACOS (AFSA) to organize company events and strengthen worker-community bonds.
• Association des Femmes de la SONACOS (AFSA)internalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Women's association of SONACOS working with Syndical Section and RSE Service on company events and community initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SIAT Group: Belgian-owned agro-industrial group operating palm oil, rubber and cocoa plantations across West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire). Comparable integrated oilseed processor with refining assets serving regional consumer and industrial markets.
• SIFCA Group: West Africa's largest privately-held agro-industrial group (palm oil, rubber, sugar) headquartered in Côte d'Ivoire. Directly comparable as a vertically-integrated West African oilseed/vegetable oil processor with crushing, refining and downstream branded consumer oils.
• Gambia Groundnut Corporation (GGC): State-owned groundnut commercialization and processing enterprise in The Gambia. Sonacos's regional partner and the most direct peer in the West African groundnut value chain, with analogous collection, crushing and oil refining activities.

Regional players

• Okomu Oil Palm Company: Nigerian-listed palm oil producer and refiner. Comparable West African integrated edible oil processor with plantation-to-refinery value chain and branded consumer oil sales.
• ETG (Export Trading Group): African agricultural commodities group operating across multiple African geographies in grains, oilseeds and edible oils. Comparable as a regional agribusiness with integrated sourcing, processing and distribution across Africa.
• Presco Plc: Nigeria-listed integrated palm oil producer (subsidiary of SIAT). Comparable integrated oilseed processor operating in West Africa, serving regional consumer and industrial edible oil markets.

Broad incumbents

• Olam Agri: Global agri-business (now operating under Olam Agri / Olam Group) with major oilseed processing, refining and edible oil distribution across Africa. Comparable as a broad incumbent active in African edible oils, though at much larger global scale.
• Bunge Limited: Global agribusiness and oilseed processor with extensive crushing, refining and edible oil operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent oilseed processor, including peanut and vegetable oil ingredient supply.
• Wilmar International: Asia-headquartered global leader in oilseed crushing, edible oil refining and branded consumer oils. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the global vegetable oil value chain, with African trading and refining interests.
• Cargill: Global agribusiness with oilseed processing, refined oils and food ingredients including peanut products. Comparable as a broad incumbent across the edible oil value chain with significant African sourcing presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SonacosS
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonacos.sn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonacos-sa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sonacos