• Côte d’Ivoire adds kola nuts to new agricultural commodity exchange in Abidjan

• Sector faces declining output, poor structure, and lower export earnings

• Market listing aims to improve pricing, financing, and global integration

Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s second-largest kola nut producer and its leading exporter, is taking steps to revive a struggling sector by listing kola nuts on its new agricultural commodity exchange. The Commodity Exchange of Agricultural Raw Materials (BMPA) was launched on May 28, 2025, in Abidjan. Kola nuts, cashew nuts, and corn are the first products listed.

The move is designed to bring structure and transparency to a sector long dominated by informal practices. At the BMPA’s inaugural session, kola nuts were traded at CFA1,000 per kilogram, compared to CFA440 for cashew nuts and CFA220 for corn.

Through the BMPA, authorities aim to stabilize producer prices, improve access to financing, and integrate local output into national and international markets. If successful, the initiative could help reverse two decades of decline in the kola nut industry.

Between 2010 and 2022, Côte d’Ivoire’s kola nut production fell from 67,000 to 58,640 tons, a 12.5% drop, according to data from TRIDGE. Exports have also decreased. Customs data show that shipment volumes dropped 21.2% in 2023 to 23,000 tons, while export earnings declined 16.7% to CFA1.5 billion ($2.6 million).

The downturn is linked to a weak production system, which relies heavily on harvesting from scattered trees in forests and cocoa plantations. The sector also faces challenges from pests, aging orchards, and deforestation. The National Agricultural Research Centre (CNRA) has called for a full modernization of the industry, including improved varieties, better cultivation methods, and pest-resistant planting materials.

According to Félix Edoh Kossi Amenounve, CEO of the West African Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM), the launch of the BMPA reflects the country’s intent to adopt modern, inclusive tools to better valorize its agricultural output. This could open new international trade opportunities for kola nuts.

Africa’s kola nut market is growing. According to Cognitive Market Research, the market grew from $41.28 million in 2021 to $45.93 million in 2025, an 11% increase in four years. It is projected to reach $56.93 million by 2033, with average annual growth of 2.72%. South Africa leads demand with a 34.8% share, followed by Nigeria at 25.3%, both key importers of Côte d’Ivoire’s kola nuts.

Globally, the market is expected to reach $119 million in 2025, with projected annual growth of 3.3% through 2033. Demand is being driven by expanding uses of kola nuts in energy drinks, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.

While the BMPA sets the foundation for a more structured and visible sector, success will depend on sustained public policies that modernize production and boost competitiveness. Kola nuts could then play a greater role in strengthening the Ivorian economy and expanding the country’s presence in global agricultural markets.