<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Mali is the second African country in number of shea trees, with nearly 100 million trees covering 20% of global demand.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Due to the lack of modern industries, most kernels were once exported raw or processed artisanally with low added value, depriving the country of access to a high-potential industrial market. In a context marked by poverty and instability, this situation represented a considerable loss.</li>
</ul>

Mali Shi enables the production and export of shea butter, a substitute for cocoa butter, that meets the demanding quality standards of the international market.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Mali Shi was created by Omnium Mali as part of its strategy to diversify activities and invest in the local agro-industry.

&nbsp;

By processing shea kernels directly in Mali, the company contributes to creating added value within the country and strengthening the local economy.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Today, Mali Shi produces and exports shea butter:

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	A sustainable alternative to cocoa butter,
	</li>
	<li>
	Meeting the highest quality standards of the international agro-industrial market. 
	&nbsp;
	</li>
</ul>

ABOUT MALI SHI

OUR TEAM

Forging strong partnerships to promote economic development in our territories as well as the inclusion of Malian women who are living in difficult conditions, allows us to strive for a better world!

&nbsp;

OUR PARTNERS

The shea tree, often called “the miracle tree”, is an exceptional resource in which every part can be used:

THE MIRACLE TREE

OUR SUPPLY NETWORK

Mali Shi relies on two complementary sourcing models:

<ul>
	<li>
	Traditional supply chain: purchasing from local suppliers and partners.
	</li>
	<li>
	Direct supply chain: sourcing directly from women collectors in rural areas who harvest and process the shea kernels.
	</li>
</ul>

To support the economic empowerment of rural women, Mali Shi prioritizes direct purchases from its network of collectors, which today represents its main source of supply.

ABOUT US

"Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future." By Nelson Mandela

20,000+

Shea butter and other oilseeds are produced at this industrial unit.

OUR IMPACT

Mali Shi, Mali's leading industrial processor, is a cutting-edge shea butter production unit founded in 2019.

MALI SHI

OUR NETWORK

NEWS

The health and well-being of our teams are among our top priorities. 
 
As part of its annual medical check-up programme for all employees, Mali Shi took part on October 5, 2026, in a breast and cervical cancer screening campaign held at the INPS Inter-Company Medical Centre (CMIE), located in the industrial zone. 
 
This initiative enabled Mali Shi&rsquo;s female employees to benefit from essential screening services, helping to promote prevention and the early detection of these two cancers, which remain major public health concerns. 
 
Through this initiative, Mali Shi reaffirms its commitment to the health, safety and well-being of its employees. Beyond the requirements of annual medical check-ups, the company places particular importance on raising awareness and promoting preventive healthcare, recognising that women&rsquo;s health is essential both at an individual and collective level. 
 
Taking care of our teams also means taking concrete action to protect their health and future. 
 
Mali Shi extends its sincere thanks to the medical team at the INPS CMIE for its support and contribution to the successful implementation of this campaign.

The health and well-being of our teams are among our top priorities.

Mali Shi Is Committed to the Health and Well-Being of Its Female Employees

On 13 and 14 October 2026, Malishi took part in the first edition of the National Shea Festival (SNKA), held in Abidjan, C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire. The company&rsquo;s participation reflects its commitment to maintaining long-term partnerships, monitoring developments across the sector and contributing to a more competitive and responsible shea industry. 
&nbsp;

<h3>A key event for the development of the shea industry</h3>

Held at the Palais des Congr&egrave;s of the Sofitel Abidjan H&ocirc;tel Ivoire, SNKA 2026 brought together public-sector representatives, professional organisations, cooperatives, processors, industrial players and partners from across the shea value chain. 
 
The event was held under the high patronage of Mrs Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, and under the sponsorship of Mr T&eacute;n&eacute; Birahima Ouattara, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. It took place under the chairmanship of Mr Bruno Nabagn&eacute; Kon&eacute;, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production. 
 
This inaugural edition aimed to strengthen the structure of C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire&rsquo;s shea industry, promote local processing and foster synergies between national and international stakeholders. 
 
Discussions focused on key issues including sector competitiveness, product quality and traceability, by-product valorisation, access to finance and the development of more efficient and inclusive supply chains. 
 
These topics reflect challenges shared by stakeholders across the West African shea industry, from nut collection to processing and commercialisation in international markets.

<h3> 
Why is participation strategically important for Malishi?</h3>

Based in Mali, Malishi operates in an industry whose industrial and commercial dynamics extend well beyond national borders. Raw material availability, quality requirements, the evolution of processing capacity and the expectations of international buyers are concerns shared by shea-producing and processing countries throughout the region. 
 
In this context, participating in a regional event such as SNKA enables Malishi to maintain a broader perspective on the sector and better understand the dynamics shaping its development. 
 
This participation serves several complementary objectives:

<ul>
	<li>Strengthening relationships with our partners. Direct dialogue remains essential to maintaining long-term professional relationships, sharing market developments and gaining a better understanding of stakeholders&rsquo; expectations.</li>
	<li>Monitoring changes across the industry. Industrial investment, traceability requirements and evolving quality standards are progressively reshaping the operating environment for processors. Being present at industry events allows Malishi to follow these developments and understand emerging priorities.</li>
	<li>Identifying regional synergies. West African producing countries have experience, expertise and resources that can contribute to a better-structured industry. Dialogue between stakeholders is an important driver of these complementarities.</li>
	<li>Anticipating competitiveness challenges. The expansion of processing capacity must go hand in hand with consideration of nut availability, raw material utilisation, commercial outlets and value creation in producing countries.</li>
</ul>

For Malishi, this approach reflects its commitment to remaining attentive to changes in its business environment and consolidating its position within the shea industry.

<h3> 
Bunge and industrial partnerships at the heart of industry discussions</h3>

Relationships with our partners are an important part of Malishi&rsquo;s participation in SNKA 2026, particularly our relationship with Bunge, a major industrial player in the sector. 
 
Bunge&rsquo;s participation in the event, including discussions on standardisation and the valorisation of shea by-products, highlighted the importance of dialogue between processors and industrial stakeholders. 
 
These topics are particularly relevant to the future of the industry. By-product valorisation can improve resource utilisation and create additional sources of value. Meanwhile, quality and traceability remain essential to meeting market expectations and strengthening trust between business partners. 
 
For Malishi, maintaining regular contact with its partners helps sustain dialogue on these developments, share perspectives on the industry and build a common understanding of industrial and commercial challenges. 
 
The objective is to foster long-term partnerships based on trust, quality and a mutual understanding of the realities of the sector.

<h3> 
A regional industry facing shared challenges</h3>

Beyond business-to-business exchanges, SNKA highlighted several important questions concerning the future of shea in West Africa. 
 
Expanding processing capacity creates opportunities for value creation in producing countries. It also raises important questions: how can a reliable supply of raw materials be secured? How can growing industrial capacity be aligned with available volumes? How can quality and traceability be ensured throughout the supply chain? And how can sustainable markets be developed for processed products? 
 
These questions call for collective reflection involving producers, collectors, cooperatives, processors, industrial companies, institutions and buyers. 
 
Regional cooperation can help develop solutions suited to each country&rsquo;s circumstances while strengthening the competitiveness of the industry as a whole. 
 
For Malishi, industrial development must go hand in hand with responsible resource management, better-structured supply chains and a continued focus on quality.

<h3> 
Malishi: committed to cooperation and sustainable development</h3>

Participation in SNKA 2026 forms part of Malishi&rsquo;s ongoing approach: developing long-term professional relationships, monitoring market developments and contributing, alongside its partners, to a better-structured shea industry. 
 
For a company based in Mali, taking part in discussions in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire provides an opportunity to strengthen its regional engagement, share common industry concerns and follow the developments that will shape the sector&rsquo;s future. 
 
At Malishi, we believe that the long-term sustainability of the shea industry depends on quality, responsible processing, value creation in producing countries and cooperation among industry stakeholders. 
 
By strengthening dialogue and partnerships across the region, the industry can continue to develop and consolidate its position in international markets. 
 
Malishi &mdash; Processing locally, creating lasting value.

On 13 and 14 October 2026, Malishi took part in the first edition of the National Shea Festival (SNKA), held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The company’s participation reflects its commitment to maintaining long-term partnerships, monitoring developments across the sector and contributing to a more competitive and responsible shea industry.

Malishi at SNKA 2026: Strengthening Partnerships and Contributing to the Future of the Shea Industry in West Africa

(Agence Ecofin) &ndash; West Africa remains the world&rsquo;s main shea sourcing region, accounting for the bulk of the resource and the leading exporting countries. The new 2026 season will be closely watched by market participants. 
 
With the season already underway in Benin, Mali, Togo and C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, uncertainty is expected to persist across the West African shea belt. As was the case two years ago, industry players will have to contend with export restrictions imposed by several countries and volatility in a market increasingly shaped by national trade policies. 
 
A Fragmented Landscape 
 
On paper, West African shea-producing countries share the same structural advantage: favourable agroclimatic conditions for a resource whose commercial supply comes exclusively from the African continent. 
 
However, behind this common foundation, processing and value-addition policies are taking different paths. Each country is seeking to retain more raw materials, supply local processing facilities and capture a greater share of value added, but without using the same instruments or progressing at the same pace. 
 
Burkina Faso, which banned shea nut exports in September 2024, lifted the suspension last May. However, the country maintains a regulated framework: exporters granted special authorisation must allocate 25% of their planned volumes to local processing units, while exported shea kernels are subject to a levy of CFA 200 per kilogram. 
 
In Mali, Nigeria and C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, export bans remain in place to reserve raw materials for domestic processing. Benin, meanwhile, has opted for a less restrictive approach, allowing trade to continue while imposing a high export tax. In Togo, exports are once again permitted, but require prior authorisation and are subject to a tax of CFA 100 per kilogram, under a regulatory framework that was still being clarified at the beginning of the season. 
 
Meanwhile, in Ghana, the gradual blocking of raw shea nut exports announced in July 2025 has not yet taken effect. These differing industrial policies are already having tangible effects on the market, influencing both prices and demand conditions. 
 
According to the latest bulletin from N&rsquo;kal&ocirc;, a market information service, shea kernels were trading at between CFA 575 and CFA 675 per kilogram in Ghana, compared with CFA 280&ndash;320 per kilogram in Nigeria. Between these two markets, farmgate prices ranged from CFA 260 to CFA 310 per kilogram in Benin, CFA 275&ndash;290 in Burkina Faso, and around CFA 325&ndash;330 in Togo. 
 
In Nigeria, the export ban has been accompanied by a sharp decline in demand, excess stocks carried over from the previous season and the withdrawal of major exporters. Kernel prices, which initially climbed to CFA 340 per kilogram amid speculative activity, have since fallen due to a lack of buyers. 
 
Conversely, Ghana remains the market most open to international buyers for the time being. Wholesalers hold substantial stocks, forward contracts structure purchasing activity, and new entrants are struggling to secure commercial volumes, as many collectors and cooperatives are already committed to existing customers. 
 
&ldquo;Operators remain at the mercy of authorisations and bans, which can be announced overnight. There is also sometimes a gap between official announcements and what actually happens on the ground. Informal cross-border flows have emerged as well, making price movements even harder to predict. Everything depends on how effectively border controls are enforced. The situation will therefore be not only unpredictable but also very different from one country to another. As in the previous season, prices may surge in some countries while stagnating or declining in others. We are once again facing a season unlike anything the market experienced before 2024,&rdquo; Ana&iuml;s Chotard, an analyst at N&rsquo;kal&ocirc;, told Agence Ecofin. 
 
The Processing Segment Still Has Ground to Cover 
 
Despite this market volatility, the shea processing sector has been trying to keep pace over the past two years. 
 
While the situation in Nigeria is currently sluggish, with processing plants standing idle, local demand remains strong in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, where a third processing plant is being established. In Benin, industrial and semi-industrial processing units are also continuing to purchase raw materials to secure the volumes required for their operations. 
 
&ldquo;The momentum is there, but we have not yet reached a satisfactory situation. According to available customs data, shea butter exports from the region as a whole are estimated at around 85,000 tonnes in 2025. Installed processing capacity is probably significantly higher than this volume, meaning that facilities have certainly not operated at full capacity, and perhaps not even at a level that would ensure sufficient profitability,&rdquo; she noted. 
 
While local processing capacity is still seeking to reach a steady operating pace and domestic demand remains uneven across countries, the international shea butter market continues to show a strong upward trend. 
 
According to N&rsquo;kal&ocirc;, shea butter exports are increasing and partially replacing kernel exports, particularly to Europe but also to India, while demand for kernels remains substantial. 
 
On another front, the market information service highlights the emergence of new supplier countries in the international market. This trend could reflect diversification efforts by industrial buyers seeking to reduce their dependence on traditional producing countries subject to export restrictions. However, the trend remains to be confirmed over the coming months. 
 
<a href="https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites/0610-142153-karite-2026-l-afrique-de-l-ouest-face-a-une-nouvelle-campagne-sous-tension">By Espoir Olodo &ndash; Agence Ecofin</a>

(Agence Ecofin) – West Africa remains the world’s main shea sourcing region, accounting for the bulk of the resource and the leading exporting countries. The new 2026 season will be closely watched by market participants.

West Africa’s Shea Market Faces Renewed Uncertainty as the 2026 Season Begins

Omnium Mali SA&#39;s main business is to manufacture and distribute D, AA, and AAA type batteries under the &#39;MASA+&#39; brand.

It is now the leading company in a highly competitive market, with a 70% market share, and manages a dedicated distribution network throughout Malian territory, reaching more than 10,000 points of sale. Omnium Mali SA is the country&#39;s main mobile energy provider in a country where 65 percent of the population lacks access to electricity.

Furthermore, this company is the sole distributor of RAMBO brand aerosol and powder insecticides, thus helping a rural population afflicted by malaria and mosquitoes. Finally, Omnium Mali SA helped contribute 58.5 percent of the Mali Shi project&#39;s cost.

OMNIUM MALI SA

Omnium Mali SA's main business is to manufacture and distribute D, AA, and AAA type batteries under the 'MASA+' brand. It is now the leading company in a highly competitive market, with a 70% market share, and manages a dedicated distribution network throughout Malian territory, reaching more than 10,000 points of sale. Omnium Mali SA is the country's main mobile energy provider in a country where 65 percent of the population lacks access to electricity. Furthermore, this company is the sole distributor of RAMBO brand aerosol and powder insecticides, thus helping a rural population afflicted by malaria and mosquitoes. Finally, Omnium Mali SA helped contribute 58.5 percent of the Mali Shi project's cost.

Banque Atlantique, a subsidiary of the BCP group (Morocco), contributed to the financing of Mali Shi, Mali&#39;s first shea butter processing plant. Through this financing of 1.981 billion FCFA, Banque Atlantique is aiding the Malian agricultural sector, notably the shea value chain, as part of a global approach to supporting high-impact structuring projects. social, in line with the BCP group&#39;s solidarity and civic commitment.

Atlantic Bank

Banque Atlantique, a subsidiary of the BCP group (Morocco), contributed to the financing of Mali Shi, Mali's first shea butter processing plant. Through this financing of 1.981 billion FCFA, Banque Atlantique is aiding the Malian agricultural sector, notably the shea value chain, as part of a global approach to supporting high-impact structuring projects. social, in line with the BCP group's solidarity and civic commitment.

The Malian Solidarity Bank (BMS SA) is part of the government&#39;s anti-poverty strategy, which aims to improve access to credit for underprivileged populations (women, young people, etc.) and to promote income-generating activities. It provided Mali Shi with a loan of 500,000,000 FCFA to help fund its almond collection campaign.

BMS SA

The Malian Solidarity Bank (BMS SA) is part of the government's anti-poverty strategy, which aims to improve access to credit for underprivileged populations (women, young people, etc.) and to promote income-generating activities. It provided Mali Shi with a loan of 500,000,000 FCFA to help fund its almond collection campaign.

Class M empowers business leaders in Africa with their growth strategies and economic and social impact issues. Class M assists Mali Shi in the sizing of a turnkey project, which includes detailed market analysis; identification of potential customers in the shea sector; technical sizing of the production unit and supplier quotes; strategy for structuring a supply chain with women shea collectors; identification of capacity-building partners; formalization of cooperatives; and operational implementation plan.

CLASS M

Class M empowers business leaders in Africa with their growth strategies and economic and social impact issues. Class M assists Mali Shi in the sizing of a turnkey project, which includes detailed market analysis; identification of potential customers in the shea sector; technical sizing of the production unit and supplier quotes; strategy for structuring a supply chain with women shea collectors; identification of capacity-building partners; formalization of cooperatives; and operational implementation plan.

Endeavor Mining initiated the ECODEV program. It reflects the mining firm&#39;s devotion to an assertive social responsibility policy.

ECODEV invests in projects with a strong social and economic impact, with the objective of generating sustainable growth poles for local communities. It operates as close to the ecosystem of mining sites in West Africa as possible.

In addition to its corporate social responsibility activities (access to education, health, energy, water, infrastructure construction, and so on), the Endeavor Mining group is committed to a sustainable economic development policy oriented toward local populations. Finally, ECODEV contributed 35% of the total cost of the Mali Shi project.

ECODEV

Endeavor Mining initiated the ECODEV program. It reflects the mining firm's devotion to an assertive social responsibility policy. ECODEV invests in projects with a strong social and economic impact, with the objective of generating sustainable growth poles for local communities. It operates as close to the ecosystem of mining sites in West Africa as possible. In addition to its corporate social responsibility activities (access to education, health, energy, water, infrastructure construction, and so on), the Endeavor Mining group is committed to a sustainable economic development policy oriented toward local populations. Finally, ECODEV contributed 35% of the total cost of the Mali Shi project.

UN Women is a United Nations organization devoted to gender equality and women&#39;s empowerment. Because the shea sector in Mali is one of the sure and quick sources of income to accelerate the economic empowerment of rural and urban women, UN Women and Mali Shi have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the promotion of women&#39;s entrepreneurship, increase women&#39;s contribution to agricultural sector development, and increase women&#39;s access to gender-sensitive private sector markets.

UN Women

UN Women is a United Nations organization devoted to gender equality and women's empowerment. Because the shea sector in Mali is one of the sure and quick sources of income to accelerate the economic empowerment of rural and urban women, UN Women and Mali Shi have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the promotion of women's entrepreneurship, increase women's contribution to agricultural sector development, and increase women's access to gender-sensitive private sector markets.

IFC x Mali Shi:

Enhancing agricultural productivity is a main priority for Mali, which ranks 182nd out of 188 countries in the 2018 United Nations Human Development Index. 90 percent of the poor population lives in rural areas, and the country&#39;s recent droughts and conflicts have only exacerbated poverty.

Mali Shi received a US $2.5 million loan from IFC.

This funding was made possible by the IFC&#39;s Initiative for Conflict-Affected States in Africa (CASA), which was implemented in collaboration with Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway.

This is a private-sector development program in 13 African countries that aims to:

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Give private enterprises technical assistance.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Improve private companies&#39; market knowledge.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Assist these countries&#39; governments in boosting economic growth.</li>
</ul>

This investment in Mali Shi is also backed by the private sector window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), which is managed by IFC and supported by the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. IFC can invest in more risky projects with a high development impact with GAFSP funding. In addition to financing, the IFC also trains members of women-led cooperatives that work with Mali Shi.

Besides the IFC, the World Bank is actively helping shea cooperatives with targeted grants to enable working women:

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">To obtain equipment.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">To construct storage warehouses.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">To benefit from technical education.</li>
</ul>

This is done with the aim of enhancing the quality of the almonds that will be processed. This assistance program aims to professionalize Mali&#39;s shea cooperatives and increase their long-term income.

Mali Shi can indeed improve its performance in terms of energy efficiency, environmental and social management, product traceability, and compliance with international food hygiene standards thanks to IFC technical assistance.

IFC is a sister organization of the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group, and the world's largest development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.

Mali Shi has been working with BLC since the beginning of the company&#39;s business. It uses BLC&#39;s technical knowledge and expertise to improve its shea butter processing and quality standards in order to supply global markets.

Bunge

Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) is an agribusiness and food ingredients firm committed to improving the global food supply chain. In addition to being Mali Shi's main client, BLC is a technical and strategic partner.

GSA is a non-profit organization including over 700 members from 35 countries on all continents, including women&#39;s groups, brands and retailers, suppliers, and non-governmental institutions. Through public-private partnerships, AGK promotes industry sustainability, quality practices and standards, and shea demand in food and cosmetics.

The AGK aims to be the main base for defending strategic interests and meeting the practical needs of its members, who are shea sector actors of all sizes. This organization&#39;s main goal is to design, develop, and implement strategies that promote a competitive and sustainable shea industry worldwide while also improving the livelihoods of rural African women and their communities. AGK&#39;s core values are founded on promoting an inclusive value chain and cultivating a pre-competitive and business-driven environment.

Global Shea Alliance

GSA is a non-profit organization including over 700 members from 35 countries on all continents, including women's groups, brands and retailers, suppliers, and non-governmental institutions. Through public-private partnerships, AGK promotes industry sustainability, quality practices and standards, and shea demand in food and cosmetics. 
The AGK aims to be the main base for defending strategic interests and meeting the practical needs of its members, who are shea sector actors of all sizes. This organization's main goal is to design, develop, and implement strategies that promote a competitive and sustainable shea industry worldwide while also improving the livelihoods of rural African women and their communities. AGK's core values are founded on promoting an inclusive value chain and cultivating a pre-competitive and business-driven environment.

SOATAF

SOATAF (Société Abdoul Talla & Frères) is a Malian company that exports agricultural products such as shea grains, sesame, and arabic gum. He is Malishi's third shareholder.

Ecobank

BICIM atlantic group

Cadre intégré renforcé

Investisseurs & Partenaires

The selling of shea tree leaves, roots, fruits, and so on was prohibited by custom...

The selling of shea tree leaves, roots, fruits, and so on was prohibited by custom. Despite this, witch doctors and traditional healers utilized the shea tree&#39;s roots to create highly sought-after medications. For these folks, the sale of the cures was a vital source of revenue.

Did you know that shea was a tree that was traditionally safeguarded due of its benefits?

What distinguishes Mali Shi?

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Local almond processing in Mali Shi has produced 128 jobs, including 90 direct positions at the Banankoro factory.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Supporting women&#39;s organizations via commercial, management, and quality training, promotes the formation of formal and autonomous economic cooperatives with their own warehouses and direct access to the shea market.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Mali Shi&#39;s equity-financed structuring initiatives in Kalana enabled the formation of a union of 31 cooperatives in 2019. The organization presently has 1,766 members who offer quality kernels to Mali Shi.
	</li>
</ul>

Socioeconomic value creation

impact-single-page/RylY2BvmhHNhZHGQsoCSlHwTNwGDx9ljjumvMmIg.jpg

Socio-Economic Impact

Mali Shi works across various disciplines to achieve socioeconomic impact.

Mali Shi intends to create a long-term initiative that prioritizes environmental conservation. Thus, environmental compliance and the decrease of the plant&#39;s ecological impact are critical for the company.

Environmental Management

Environmental considerations begin with the shea tree, which provides a significant ecological benefit to Mali.

The shea nut tree:

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Contributes to rural people&#39;s resilience in the face of climate change.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Encourages the conservation of endangered species.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Plays an important role in avoiding the transition from forest to savannah.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Benefits many different species, thus promoting biodiversity.
	</li>
</ul>

Currently, the shea tree is an endangered species as it is being exploited for its timber and suffers from agricultural and human population encroachment. The first priority in ensuring the sector&#39;s development is thus to ensure the conservation of the tree.

impact-single-page/fUmByi62wRtLRjbp7lOOVnV3p5BfKijxaHqogpsI.jpg

Environmental Impact

Mali Shi aspires to create a long-term initiative that prioritizes environmental conservation.

What Distinguishes Mali Shi?

<ul>
	<li>Malishi is engaged in conservation activities such as tree planting in Mali, or farmer training and awareness campaigns.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Mali Shi already uses shea oilcake as fuel. This new fuel allows the industry to minimize or even eliminate the use of wood in the transformation process.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Malishi promotes the off-season agricultural operations of women shea collectors. Shea collectors may earn money all year in this manner.
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Land Restoration and Replanting Initiatives:

&nbsp;

The shea industry faces numerous challenges, including:

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	The resource&#39;s long-term viability.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	The shea tree&#39;s natural characteristics.
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	Seasonability being&nbsp;linked to meteorological elements as well as human activity.
	</li>
</ul>

Malishi is engaged in conservation efforts such as tree planting in Mali, farmer training, and awareness campaigns.

&nbsp;

impact-single-page/5og8gt5yQJ4bdQp8HAHovhOyIljQERHsRIYXgPBw.jpg

Shea Land Conservation And Protection

The shea industry is having difficulty regenerating shea tree parks. Malishi is concerned about shea land conservation.

The incredibly healthy shea nut pulp is a pleasure for everyone...

The incredibly healthy shea nut pulp is a pleasure for everyone, especially children, from May to September.

Did you know that shea fruit may be eaten?

West Africa remains the world&#39;s primary source of shea nuts, a key raw material widely used in the cosmetics and food industries. National industrialization policies adopted by several countries across the region are already beginning to reshape global market dynamics. 
 
International purchases of shea butter reached 27,951 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of nearly 27% compared to the same period a year earlier (22,046 tonnes). This was reported by the independent trade advisory service N&#39;kal&ocirc; in its market bulletin published on June 5, citing customs data. 
 
With this growth, global shea butter purchases reached their highest first-quarter level in five years. At the same time, exports of shea nuts&mdash;the raw material in its unprocessed form&mdash;have moved in the opposite direction. According to the report, 84,705 tonnes of shea nuts were purchased on international markets during the first quarter of 2026, marking a 25% year-on-year decline and the lowest first-quarter volume recorded since 2024.

<h2> 
West African Industrialization Policies at the Core of the Shift</h2>

N&#39;kal&ocirc; attributes this contrasting trend to evolving public policies in the region&#39;s leading shea-producing countries. Since 2024, several governments have introduced restrictions on shea nut exports, aiming to capture more value domestically by developing local processing industries. 
 
Following Mali&#39;s export ban in October 2024, C&ocirc;te d&#39;Ivoire and Togo also suspended shea nut exports in January and April 2025, respectively. Nigeria, the world&#39;s largest producer, joined the movement in August 2025. 
 
Burkina Faso, which had suspended shea nut exports in 2024, lifted the ban in May 2026 under strict conditions. Exporters are now required to obtain special authorization and allocate at least 25% of their volumes to local processors. In addition, a tax of 200 CFA francs per kilogram exported has been introduced. 
 
Ghana, meanwhile, is gradually tightening restrictions and is reportedly considering a complete export ban by 2026. 
 
This combination of export restrictions, regulatory adjustments, and industrial development strategies is driving a significant reconfiguration of global supply chains. 
 
&quot;We are seeing European manufacturers increasingly purchase shea butter and invest in local processing facilities to offset the decline in raw nut exports,&quot; N&#39;kal&ocirc; explains. 
&nbsp;

<h2>A Trend Expected to Continue Throughout the Year</h2>

Looking ahead, N&#39;kal&ocirc; expects these export market dynamics to persist. 
 
&quot;Mali, C&ocirc;te d&#39;Ivoire, Togo, and Nigeria continue to maintain their export bans, while Burkina Faso has reopened exports under strict conditions. Ghana appears to be moving toward a full ban before the end of 2026, although no official legislation has yet been adopted. Burkina Faso&#39;s partial reopening, which confirms the existence of available stocks, will be closely monitored by international buyers, as will developments in Nigeria and Ghana, where restrictions continue to weigh on regional trade flows. The upcoming season is likely to remain characterized by limited exportable supplies of shea nuts, which could sustain upward pressure on prices.&quot;

<h2> 
A Structural Transformation of the Shea Industry</h2>

Against this backdrop, the increase in shea butter exports during the first quarter of 2026 appears to be more than a temporary market fluctuation. Rather, it signals a structural transformation of the shea value chain. 
 
As restrictions on raw shea nut exports encourage greater local processing, West Africa&#39;s role within the global shea industry is evolving. International buyers are adapting their sourcing strategies, while producing countries seek to capture a larger share of the industry&#39;s value creation. 
 
In the long term, this trend could redefine West Africa&#39;s position in the global shea economy, strengthening its role not only as a supplier of raw materials but also as an integrated industrial player in the international shea value chain.

St&eacute;phanas Assocle 
 
&Eacute;dit&eacute; par Wilfried ASSOGBA 
 
<a href="https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites-agro/0806-139079-le-premier-trimestre-2026-marque-un-record-pour-les-exportations-de-beurre-de-karite" target="_blank">Reference:</a>&nbsp;

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International purchases of shea butter reached 27,951 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of nearly 27% compared to the same period a year earlier (22,046 tonnes).