Market research

Kola nuts market in Nigeria

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, Nigeria's kola nut market expanded steadily, with volume reaching 176.5 thousand tonnes by 2023. Initial growth was fueled by rising demand for kola-based beverages and the nut's use as a natural stimulant. The introduction of improved hybrid varieties with higher yields and the expansion of processing operations, such as the startup Bidux Farm, supported increased production.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 spurred over a 100% rise in local consumption of bitter kola as an immune booster, further stimulating cultivation. In subsequent years, global health-conscious trends and demand for plant-based remedies boosted interest, particularly for export markets in Asia and Europe. However, climate change, soil degradation, and pests like the kola weevil posed supply challenges, even as Ghana overtook Nigeria in production volume by 2023.

Efforts to enhance the nut's value through biotechnology and nanotechnology research, alongside initiatives to improve marketing efficiency and sustainable farming practices, continued to shape the market. Significant female participation in postharvest processing and calls for better quality control to meet international standards also influenced the sector's development during this period.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Nigeria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production kola nuts in Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nigeria held the top position globally in kola nut production.

Top producers of kola nuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of kola nuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Kola nut production in Nigeria rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 170.5 thousand tonnes, a 0.7% increase compared to the previous year. The lowest output was recorded in 2018 at 167.7 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 0.1%, while the biggest increase was seen in 2019, with growth of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.1%)	0.9%	0.7%	0.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports kola nuts from Nigeria

Exports in kind, kg

In 2018, Nigeria exported 1 600 kg of kola nuts, a 313.4% surge from 2017.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	313.4%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, exports in kind were almost entirely directed to Egypt, which made up 100.0% of total shipments.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Nigeria's kola nut exports in 2018 reached 10 thousand US dollars, a sharp rise of 490.5% from the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	490.5%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt and the United Kingdom were the main destinations for Nigeria's kola nut exports in value terms, together accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports kola nuts to Nigeria

Imports in kind, kg

The data shows irregular shifts, pointing to a volatile market. Imports hit a low of 14 kg in 2018, then jumped to 6 000 kg in 2019, a dramatic increase of 42 757.1% year-over-year. The span from 2017 to 2018 saw a peak-to-trough amplitude of 73 160 times, with the largest decline recorded in 2018 at 100.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(100.0%)	42 757.1%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Ghana dominated Nigeria's kola nut imports in kind, consistently representing 99.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend during this period. Imports fell to a low of 0.1 thousand US dollars in 2018, then soared to 511 thousand US dollars in 2019, up by 893 645.0% compared to the previous year. The fluctuation between the high in 2017 and the low in 2018 was 40 555 times, with the largest decline occurring in 2018 at 100.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US