Burkina Faso Suspends Shea Nuts Export To Support Local Processing Industry

The Burkina Faso government has suspended the export of shea nuts on Wednesday. The move is intended to ensure a steady supply of raw materials for local processing industries as part of the country’s industrial development plan.

The Minister of Commerce and Economy announced the decision, stating that the issuing of Special Export Authorisations for shea nuts is also on hold.

The Burkinabe government warned that violators would face penalties and urged industry stakeholders and citizens to report any suspension violation.

Burkina Faso is the third largest producer of shea nuts, only behind Mali (2nd) and Nigeria (1st), while Europe is the primary destination of shea butter, followed by the United States.

The recent suspension of exporting shea nuts adds to the Burkina Faso government’s vision to set up local processing factories to minimise exporting raw materials at low prices.

In January 2024, the West African country, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, launched its first mine-waste treatment facility, the second African country to do so, according to Traoré.

Burkina Faso is also building a new $8 million tomato processing facility to transform the agricultural sector and improve food security.

The shea industry in Burkina Faso, run mainly by women, is a significant source of income for the country. The West African country produces around 400,000 tonnes of shea kernels each year. The industry generated $52.7 million in export revenue for the country in 2016 and rose to $61.8 million in 2019.

Shea butter is used to produce personal care products like lotions, creams, lip balms, skincare and hair products. They are also used as a healthier alternative to cocoa butter — whose cost is increasing—and as a substitute for editable vegetable fats and oil.

As of 2023, the global shear butter market was valued at $2.09 billion, according to Polaris Market Research, and is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.70 per cent from 2024 to 2032.

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