Shea: another very unusual year begins in West Africa
The 2026-2027 shea marketing campaign has been officially launched among producers in several African countries. Exports of raw shea kernels remain totally banned in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Mali, while Togo and Benin permit exports with a high tax and Burkina Faso keeps a stricter regime despite lifting its total ban in May. Ghana, which is awaiting restrictions announced by the authorities several months ago, remains the most open to international buyers and has the highest prices, with kernels sometimes trading above 600 CFA francs per kilo against about 300 FCFA/kg in Nigeria last week.
Why it matters: It shows export restrictions continuing to reorganise trade in a key agricultural commodity, with consequences for the processing industry's access to raw material in West Africa.