Why Kenya's macadamia farmers are stuck with 30,000 tonnes of unsold nuts
A government window to export raw macadamia closed on 10 October. Only 700 tonnes left the country, against 14,000 expected. Farmers and traders want it reopened. Here is what happened and why it matters.
Kenya is one of the world's leading macadamia producers, growing about 75,000 tonnes a year, mostly in Murang'a, Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, Nakuru, Baringo and Uasin Gishu. This season, much of the crop has nowhere to go.
What happened
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Export window for raw nuts | July to 10 October 2026 |
| Expected to ship | 14,000 tonnes |
| Actually shipped | About 700 tonnes, by 14 companies through Mombasa (AFA) |
| Unsold in stores and on farms | More than 30,000 tonnes, by industry estimates |
| Now | The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has blocked shipment of the unexported allocation |
Why there is a "window" at all
Kenya restricts the export of raw, unprocessed macadamia to encourage local factories to crack, process and add value before export. From time to time, the government opens a temporary window allowing raw nuts out, often to buyers in China, when local processors cannot absorb the crop. Industry experts compare this year's situation to a crisis about three years ago, when the ban was temporarily lifted.
What it means for farmers
- Low prices. With a glut, farm-gate prices are among the lowest in recent years, and farmers have less bargaining power.
- Spoilage risk. Nuts stored for too long lose quality and value.
- Factories under strain. Growers warn some processors may close if policy keeps changing.
What the industry wants
- Reopen or extend the export window so traders can meet contracts they already paid to prepare.
- Predictable rules, including regular, planned windows for raw exports to China.
- Change the law (the AFA Act) to remove the restriction on raw-nut exports, some stakeholders say.
- A support fund, like the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, so processors can pay farmers on time.
Related: inflation and the cost of living.
