Burkina Faso revises 2025/2026 shea kernel export rules to prioritize local processing
This quota ensures raw materials are available for local factories rather than being exported raw in bulk.
BURKINA FASO – The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso has announced revised measures for the 2025/2026 shea kernel export campaign, aimed at strengthening local processing and supporting producers.
Effective for the upcoming season, the government will allow shea nut exports only during a six-month window from December 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, ending the export ban imposed in September 2024.
Exporters must obtain a Special Export Authorization (ASE) and commit to selling at least 25% of their shea nut volume to domestic processing units, supported by binding contracts and reception slips.
In addition, the government has set maximum sale prices for shea nuts to local processors at 300-310 CFA francs(USD 0.4722-0.5487) per kilogram, with the possibility of revising this ceiling based on market conditions.
An export levy of 200 CFA francs per kilogram on shea nuts will also be introduced to increase state revenue and curb excessive raw exports.
These measures reflect Burkina Faso’s strategic focus on industrializing its shea sector by fostering domestic processing capacity, thereby securing livelihoods throughout the supply chain.
In 2023, the shea sector generated around 60.9 billion CFA francs (USD 103.5 million) in export revenue from shea nuts and butter combined, underscoring its economic importance.
Burkina Faso’s export policy aligns with regional efforts, such as Benin’s export levy—albeit at a lower rate of 165 CFA francs (USD 0.26) per kilogram, highlighting a broader trend towards strengthening local value addition within West Africa’s shea industry.
This shift marks a turning point for Burkina Faso, which has long been one of the world’s top exporters of shea kernels, alongside Nigeria and Mali.
Shea, often referred to as “women’s gold,” plays a vital role in the livelihoods of rural women who collect and process the nuts.
The export ban is intended to redirect economic benefits inward, encouraging investment in local refining and packaging facilities that can produce finished goods for both domestic and international markets.
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