10 Best Shea Butter Exporters in Nigeria

13 Oct 2025

Nigeria plays a leading global role in shea butter production and export. The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) grows naturally across the savannah belt in about 21 of Nigeria’s 36 states. While many rural women and cooperatives gather nuts and produce small-scale butter, the industry is increasingly becoming industrialized. Exporters process raw nuts, refine or grade shea butter, ensure quality (e.g. cold-pressing or clean processing), package export-ready products (with documentation: certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificates, often third-party inspection or SGS etc.), and ship to buyers in Europe, Asia, Americas, and elsewhere. The government has recently boosted value-addition, for instance by opening large processing/refinery plants, and placing bans or regulations to encourage export of processed shea products rather than raw nuts. Ethical sourcing, fair trade practices, community empowerment (especially for women aggregators), sustainable harvesting, and maintaining high quality (low free fatty acid, low contaminants) are now major differentiators. International buyers look for reliable supply, standardized grading, consistency, and exporters who comply with export-regulation (NEPC, CAC, etc.).