Nigeria has imposed a six-month ban on exports of raw shea nuts, aiming to shift the industry toward domestic processing and higher-value exports. Vice President Kashim Shettima called the current setup “unacceptable,” noting Nigeria produces about 350,000 tonnes a year—nearly 40% of the global crop—yet captures only around 1% of a $6.5bn market.
Officials say the pause should boost production of shea butter and other refined products used in cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals, and lift annual earnings from roughly $65m to $300m. Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari added that about a quarter of the harvest leaks across borders via informal trade.
The shea belt stretches across West to East Africa and is dominated by smallholders, many of them women. Central-Nigeria–based academic Dr. Ahmed Ismail welcomed the move but urged tighter regulation to prevent middlemen from underpaying farmers and to ensure value is added locally through crushing, roasting and oil extraction.