The Malian government has decided to suspend the export of several key agricultural produce, including shea nuts, groundnuts, soybeans and sesame.
The decision to suspend certain imports, taken by interministerial decree on October 3, 2024, aims to limit the outflow of these produce (shea kernels, groundnuts, soybeans, sesame) from the country in order to encourage their local processing.
According to the decree, products seized from violators will be sold to local industries for processing. The aim of this measure is to increase the added value of Mali’s agricultural resources.
The decree, signed by the Ministers of Economy and Finance and of Industry and Trade, comes into force immediately, but the duration of the suspension has not been specified.
This decision is part of an effort to maximise the economic benefits of these resources for the country by promoting local industry and job creation.
Mali is a major producer of shea nuts, exporting mainly raw kernels to Europe. Annual groundnut production is around 700,000 tons, but local processing remains limited, with low yields and volatile prices. Soybeans, on the rise, have strong growth potential, but local processing is still underdeveloped.
Before Mali, Burkina Faso on September 18 suspended the export of shea kernels in order to promote local industrial development.
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