Costing & margin analysis

Here’s a TESDA- and Oud Academia–aligned module on Costing & Margin Analysis for agarwood leaf tea, focused on food-grade, non-resin leaves, premium branding, and export-ready pricing.


Costing & Margin Analysis

Food-Grade Agarwood Leaf Tea


1. Core Principle

“Accurate costing and margin analysis ensure profitability, sustainability, and informed pricing decisions for local and export markets.”

Understanding all costs from farm-to-cup allows producers to set competitive prices, ensure quality, and maintain healthy profit margins.


2. Cost Components

CategoryDescriptionNotes
Raw MaterialsSeedlings, fertilizers, soil amendmentsInclude sustainable/organic inputs
Cultivation & LaborPruning, agroforestry management, harvestingLabor-intensive; ethical sourcing costs included
Post-Harvest ProcessingWashing, sanitation, drying, sorting, gradingEnergy, labor, and equipment costs
PackagingLoose leaf, tea bags, pyramid sachets, desiccants, nitrogen flushingBarrier packaging costs affect shelf-life
Quality AssuranceSensory profiling, moisture & oxygen control, microbial testing, shelf-life validationEnsures compliance and premium product quality
Regulatory & CertificationFDA-PH registration, export permits, organic or ESG certificationsFixed cost per batch or annualized
Logistics & DistributionStorage, shipping, export documentation, tariffsVaries by domestic or export markets
Marketing & BrandingLabeling, cultural storytelling, community profiles, promotionSupports premium pricing and market differentiation
OverheadsUtilities, administration, equipment depreciationAllocate proportionally to each batch

3. Margin Calculation

  1. Total Cost per Unit = (Raw Materials + Labor + Post-Harvest + Packaging + QA + Regulatory + Logistics + Marketing + Overheads) ÷ Units Produced
  2. Selling Price per Unit = Total Cost × (1 + Target Margin %)
  3. Gross Margin % = ((Selling Price − Total Cost) ÷ Selling Price) × 100
  4. Net Profit per Unit = Selling Price − Total Cost − Taxes/Fees

Example:

  • Total Cost per 50g tea pack = ₱150
  • Target Margin = 40%
  • Selling Price = ₱150 × 1.40 = ₱210
  • Gross Margin = 28.6%

4. Local vs Export Considerations

MarketCost FactorsMargin Implications
LocalDomestic labor, transport, packagingLower shipping/tariff costs; moderate margins
ExportShipping, customs, tariffs, foreign market complianceHigher cost per unit; justify premium pricing with quality, traceability, ESG story

5. TESDA-Aligned Learning Outcomes

Learners will be able to:

  1. Identify all cost components in agarwood leaf tea production
  2. Calculate unit costs, selling prices, and gross/net margins
  3. Adjust pricing for local and export markets
  4. Analyze profitability per batch or product line
  5. Integrate costing with sustainability, branding, and quality control

6. Integration with Other Modules

  • Farm-to-Cup Value Chain: maps cost allocation across stages
  • Packaging & Shelf-Life: affects per-unit cost and margin
  • Ethical Sourcing & Community Stories: adds premium value justifying higher margins
  • Pricing Strategy: aligns with cost and target profitability
  • Export Readiness: ensures regulatory, logistics, and compliance costs are included

7. Regulatory & Export Notes

  • Include FDA-PH and ASEAN compliance costs in export pricing
  • Ethical sourcing, traceability, and certifications may increase cost but support premium margins
  • Transparent costing improves investor confidence and consumer trust

✅ Ideal For:

  • TESDA CBLM & business management modules
  • Oud Academia premium tea production, functional blends, and export readiness courses
  • Plantation SOPs for cost tracking, margin planning, and pricing strategy
  • Export-ready loose leaf, tea bag, and pyramid sachet products

I can next create:

  1. A visual Costing & Margin Analysis infographic showing all cost components, markup, and gross/net margin calculation
  2. A ready-to-use costing template for batch-level analysis and export pricing
  3. Integration into TESDA submission package alongside Farm-to-Cup and Export Readiness modules

Do you want me to make the Costing & Margin Analysis infographic next?