Burkina Faso lifts suspension on shea nut exports and imposes new fees on exporters
Reopening exports is conditional on supporting national processing units.
Written by: Mohammed Omran
The government announced Burkina Faso The suspension on shea nut exports will be lifted as of May 22, 2026, according to a joint statement issued by the Ministries of Commerce and Economy, in a move that reopens exports of one of the country’s most important agricultural products after nearly two years of restrictions.
Burkina Faso lifts suspension on shea nut exports and imposes new fees on exporters
On September 18, 2024, the authorities decided to temporarily suspend the export of shea nuts nationwide, with the aim of ensuring a regular supply to local processing plants and enhancing the added value of the national industry.
The government confirmed that current assessments showed that supplies to local processing plants reached satisfactory levels during the 2025-2026 marketing season, which justified the decision to reopen borders to exports of the product.
According to the statement, the resumption of exports will be subject to new conditions, as any economic entity wishing to obtain a Special Export License (ASE) must commit to selling at least 25% of the quantity allocated for export to national processing units that still have existing needs, at prices set by the state.
The authorities also stipulated that these transactions must be documented with final contracts and delivery receipts duly signed and stamped by all parties involved.
The government also approved imposing a fee of 200 African francs for each kilogram of shea nuts exported, with these fees to be paid into the state treasury.
The government called on all stakeholders in the shea sector, along with government technical departments, to cooperate in order to properly implement these measures and ensure respect for the new export regulations.
It also appealed to citizens to act responsibly and report any cases of fraud or violation of these procedures via the free numbers that the authorities have allocated for this purpose.
