Cold pressed oil is more expensive mainly because of how it’s made and the quality it offers. Here are the key reasons:

1. Low Yield

• Cold pressing extracts oil slowly at low temperatures, so the yield is much less than refined methods.

• Example: To get 1 liter of cold pressed groundnut oil, you may need 2.5–3 kg of peanuts, whereas refined extraction can get more oil from the same quantity.

2. Quality Raw Materials

• Only good quality, clean seeds/nuts are used because the oil is not chemically treated later.

• In refined oil, even lower-grade seeds can be used because chemicals and heat remove impurities.

3. No Chemical Extraction

• Refined oils use solvents like hexane to pull out maximum oil, which is cheaper.

• Cold pressed oils avoid chemicals, so the process is slower and costlier.

4. Small-Scale Production

• Cold pressed oil is often made in small batches by local or artisanal producers.

• Lack of mass-scale machinery makes per-liter costs higher.

5. Nutrient Retention

• The process preserves vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a premium, health-oriented product.

• This “health value” increases market price.

6. Shorter Shelf Life

• Since it’s free from preservatives and chemicals, cold pressed oil has a shorter shelf life and requires careful storage, adding to handling costs.