How to Export Macadamia Nuts From Kenya (2026 Guide)

Anyone who wants to export macadamia from Kenya should first understand that Kenya has been protecting its macadamia value chain with seasonal harvest bans and a rule against exporting raw nuts without approval. The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) is the regulator that announces these measures, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) registers processed-produce exporters, and buyers judge your kernels against international grade standards. This guide sets out what we could verify from official and reputable sources as of October 2026, what we could not, and how to prepare. Rules change often in this sector, so confirm with AFA and KEPHIS before every season.

Who regulates macadamia in Kenya?

AFA is the agency behind the macadamia trade rules in the news. Business Daily reported on 11 November 2025 that AFA announced a seasonal ban on harvesting and trading locally produced macadamia nuts, covering all value-chain actors including processors, exporters, importers and marketing agents. The ban was to run from 1 December 2025 until 15 February 2026, and AFA cited immature crop development and the need to protect Kenya's premium quality reputation. The same report noted that Kenya prohibits raw macadamia exports unless the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary gives written approval.

We could not open AFA's own macadamia notices during this research, because the site blocks automated reading, so these points come from a reputable news report. Check AFA directly for the current position: if you read a notice from a previous season, assume it has been replaced. As a rule, plan your business around exporting processed kernels, not raw nuts.

Registering as a macadamia exporter with KEPHIS

KEPHIS's published procedure for registration as an exporter of agricultural produce explains what it expects. You apply in writing to KEPHIS with your export licence, company registration, KRA PIN and directors' ID copies, details of farms, crops and target markets, and any grower contracts or supply agreements. The procedure says KEPHIS then runs a system audit within ten working days of receiving the application. For exporters of dried or processed produce, which is the category macadamia kernels fall into, the audit is a facility inspection covering market requirements, quality control, good handling practices, sanitation and housekeeping, worker health and hygiene, and pest control. All companies then complete training on the Electronic Certification System and register on it.

So the practical checklist is a processing facility you can defend in an inspection: clean receiving and drying areas, pest control records, trained staff and written quality control procedures.

Macadamia grades and processing: nut-in-shell vs kernels

Macadamia moves in two main forms: nut-in-shell, and kernels after the shell is cracked, with kernels sorted by style (for example whole, halves or pieces) and quality. The UNECE publishes an international standard for macadamia kernels, listed as DDP-23 "Macadamia nut kernels" in its dry and dried produce standards. We could not open the PDF during this research, so we are not quoting its style classes, moisture limit or defect tolerances. Download the current version, read it with your buyer, and use it as the basis for your contract specification. Whatever grade names you use, define them in writing: moisture, kernel size, defects, rancidity and foreign matter are the areas buyers dispute most.

• Drying and storage: nuts must be properly dried and stored before processing; poor handling can damage quality before it reaches the processor. Keep a record of delivery dates, drying time and storage conditions for every lot.
• Traceability: be able to say which farms or aggregators supplied each lot. KEPHIS's audit procedure asks for traceability systems for fresh produce, and buyers will ask for the same for nuts.

Phytosanitary and other export documents

KEPHIS says exporters must obtain the importing country's phytosanitary requirements first, then KEPHIS inspectors inspect and, where requirements are met, issue the phytosanitary certificate. The standards it checks include pest and disease freedom, residue compliance, proper grading, moisture and damage, and packaging. Whether your macadamia shipment needs a phytosanitary certificate depends on the product form and destination, so ask your buyer to confirm in writing, and ask KEPHIS and your clearing agent which documents apply. Typical shipments also carry a commercial invoice and packing list; your agent will advise on customs declarations.

Destination rules: what the EU expects

The European Commission's Access2Markets page says that products sold in the EU must meet EU requirements protecting human and animal health, the environment and consumers, and recommends the My Trade Assistant tool for product-specific rules. For plants and plant products, a phytosanitary certificate is needed for the commodities listed in Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The EU also sets maximum levels for contaminants in food in Regulation (EU) 2023/915. We could not extract nut-specific limits from the pages we opened, so ask your importer for the limits and testing they require, and test your lots in an accredited laboratory before you ship. For markets outside the EU, get the importing country's rules in writing.

Common reasons macadamia consignments get into trouble

• Harvesting or trading immature nuts, which is what the seasonal ban is designed to stop.
• Trying to ship raw nuts without the written approval Kenya requires.
• Poor drying and storage that leads to quality complaints.
• Weak traceability, so you cannot show where a lot came from.
• Vague contract specifications, so the buyer and seller disagree about grade.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export raw macadamia nuts from Kenya? A Business Daily report of November 2025 says raw macadamia exports are prohibited unless the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary gives written approval. Confirm with AFA.

When is the macadamia harvest season in Kenya? AFA announces harvesting and trading windows. A 2025/26 ban ran from 1 December 2025 to 15 February 2026, so check the current notice for the period you plan to trade.

Who registers macadamia exporters? KEPHIS runs the exporter system audit and registration. You also need the relevant export licence, which AFA can advise on.

What international standard covers macadamia kernels? UNECE standard DDP-23 for macadamia nut kernels. Agree it or another specification with your buyer.

Getting started

Talk to AFA and KEPHIS first, then to your buyers. Once you have a spec and sample, create a free Comilmart account and list your macadamia kernels; you can list before verified supplier (KYS) checks, and verification builds buyer trust when you are ready. Overseas buyers can register and send requests for quotation at /request-quotation. Browse the food and agro category and the supplier directory. For the bigger picture, read Africa's growing export categories and the buyer's guide to wholesale African food and agro products. Official sources: the KEPHIS exporter registration procedure, KEPHIS phytosanitary services, the UNECE dry and dried produce standards and the EU Access2Markets product requirements page.