Nigeria bans export of shea nuts used in beauty creams for six months
Summary
Nigeria has temporarily stopped the export of raw shea nuts for six months to boost local production of shea butter. The country aims to increase its share of the global market by processing more nuts domestically instead of exporting them raw.Key Facts
- Nigeria banned the export of raw shea nuts for six months.
- Nigeria is the largest producer of shea nuts, with about 350,000 tonnes harvested each year.
- The country only accounts for 1% of the $6.5 billion global market for shea products.
- The goal is to transform Nigeria from a raw exporter to a supplier of refined shea products.
- Vice-President Kashim Shettima wants to increase Nigeria's annual earnings from $65 million to $300 million from shea products.
- 25% of Nigeria’s shea crop is lost in unregulated trade across borders.
- Small-scale farmers, often women, plant and harvest shea nuts in Africa.
- There is little local regulation, leading to farmers being paid low prices despite the high international value of shea nuts.
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