Nigeria Extends Ban On Shea Nut Exports For A Year

For the next one year, Shea nuts won’t be shipped out of Nigeria as the West African economic giant seeks to boost local value addition.

According to Nigeria, the extended ban aims to “deepen processing capacity within the country, enhance livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promote the growth of Nigerian exports anchored on value-added products,” President Bola Tinubu said in a statement Thursday.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of shea nuts, contributing over 45% of global supply with an annual production of around 500,000 metric tons. Predominantly located in the northern Guinea Savannah region, Niger State is the largest producer, alongside Kwara, Kebbi, Kogi, and Kaduna.

The industry employs millions of women and is crucial for cosmetic and food industries.

The sector aims to generate up to U$300 million annually in the short term, with goals for a 10-fold increase by 2027.

The UK, USA, Germany, and Japan import large quantities of Nigerian shea.

The industry is shifting toward improving local processing capacity to move away from relying solely on raw,, unprocessed exports.