Product 07 · Export from Kenya

Kenya Macadamia, Cashew, Sesame & Groundnut Exporter

Q: Can you export raw in-shell macadamia?

Kenya restricts raw in-shell macadamia exports to encourage local processing. We supply graded kernels and will advise if nut-in-shell is permitted at the time of your order.

Q: What aflatoxin limits do you meet?

We test every lot and match the destination's legal limits (e.g., EU and US limits) with a certificate of analysis.

Kenya is one of the world's top macadamia producers, alongside a growing trade in cashews, sesame, groundnuts and sunflower seed from its coastal, eastern and western regions.

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Overview

Macadamia grows on smallholdings across the central highlands and is cracked, sorted and graded in licensed processing plants that meet international food-safety standards. Kenyan regulations restrict the export of raw in-shell macadamia and require value addition, so we primarily supply graded kernels.

Cashews come from the Coast (Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu), sesame from Eastern, Coast and western Kenya, and groundnuts mainly from the Lake Victoria basin. Oilseeds are cleaned and sorted to export purity standards.

Typical buyers: Snack manufacturers, nut processors, food-ingredient companies, oil millers and wholesalers.

Types, varieties, grades & specifications

8 types available. Specifications are typical; exact parameters are confirmed per lot on the quotation and certificate of analysis.

Type 1 of 8

Macadamia Kernels — Style 0 / 1 (wholes)

Premium whole kernels for snacking and retail.

Style 0 and Style 1 are the premium whole-kernel grades. Macadamia nuts are dried, cracked and sorted by machine and hand to select large, unbroken, cream-white kernels with a rich, buttery taste. They are the preferred grade for roasted and salted snacks, retail packs and premium chocolate coating.

Typical uses & buyers

Roasted & salted snack nuts
Premium retail packs
Chocolate-coated macadamias
Gift and duty-free products

Sample: $16.00/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Product	macadamia kernels (Macadamia integrifolia / tetraphylla hybrids)
Style 0	wholes > 20 mm; Style 1: wholes 17–20 mm (Style 1L / 1S splits available)
Wholes	≥ 95%
Colour	cream-white, uniform
Moisture	≤ 1.5%
Free fatty acids	≤ 0.5% · Peroxide value: ≤ 3 meq/kg
Aflatoxin	within EU / destination limits
Microbiology	Salmonella absent/375 g, E. coli < 10 cfu/g
Packing	11.34 kg vacuum, nitrogen-flushed foil bags × 2 per carton
Shelf life	12–18 months (vacuum, < 15 °C)

Type 2 of 8

Macadamia Kernels — Style 2 / 4 (halves & wholes)

Halves and halves/wholes mix for snacks, baking and confectionery.

Style 2 is a mix of roughly 50% whole kernels and 50% halves, and Style 4 is predominantly halves. These grades offer the full macadamia flavour at a lower price than wholes and are widely used in snack mixes, baking and confectionery.

Typical uses & buyers

Trail and snack mixes
Bakery (cookies, cakes)
Confectionery and chocolate inclusions
Muesli and granola

Sample: $13.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Style 2	approx. 50% wholes / 50% halves
Style 4	≥ 90% halves (4L large / 4S small available)
Colour	cream-white
Moisture	≤ 1.5%
Free fatty acids	≤ 0.5%
Aflatoxin & micro	per destination limits
Packing	11.34 kg vacuum foil bags, 22.68 kg cartons
Shelf life	12–18 months

Type 3 of 8

Macadamia Kernels — Style 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 (pieces)

Pieces and chips for bakery, ice cream and chocolate.

Piece grades are graded by size — from large pieces (Style 5) down to small chips and meal (Style 7 and 8). They provide macadamia flavour and texture for manufacturing at the most economical price.

Typical uses & buyers

Ice cream and dairy inclusions
Bakery and biscuit manufacturing
Chocolate bars and confectionery
Nut butters and pastes

Sample: $10.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Style 5	large pieces (≈ 9–12 mm)
Style 6	medium pieces (≈ 6–9 mm)
Style 7	small pieces (≈ 3–6 mm)
Style 8	chips / meal (< 3 mm)
Moisture	≤ 1.5%
Aflatoxin & micro tested per lot
Packing	11.34 kg vacuum bags
Shelf life	12 months

Type 4 of 8

Macadamia Nut-in-Shell (NIS)

Subject to current AFA export rules — available only where permitted.

Nut-in-shell is the dried macadamia nut still in its hard shell, sold to crackers and processors. Kenya currently restricts the export of raw in-shell macadamia to encourage local processing, so NIS can only be offered where the Agriculture and Food Authority permits it at the time of contract.

Typical uses & buyers

Cracking and processing plants
In-shell retail (where permitted)

Sample priced on invoice Quote this type

Specifications

Kernel recovery	approx. 28–33%
Sound kernel	≥ 90%
Moisture	≤ 10% (dried NIS 1.5–3.5% kernel moisture)
Nut size	≥ 18 mm
Packing	25 kg PP bags or bulk
Availability	subject to AFA export rules

Type 5 of 8

Cashew Kernels (W180–W450, splits, pieces)

Coastal cashew, processed and graded to AFI standards.

Kenyan cashews come from the coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Lamu. Raw nuts are steamed, shelled, peeled and graded to international (AFI) standards. 'W' grades are white wholes sized by the number of kernels per pound — the lower the number, the larger the nut.

Typical uses & buyers

Roasted & salted snacks
Cooking and Asian cuisine
Cashew butter and plant-based dairy
Confectionery and bakery

Sample: $8.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

W180	170–180 kernels/lb (jumbo)
W240	220–240 kernels/lb
W320	300–320 kernels/lb (most traded)
W450	400–450 kernels/lb
Other grades	SW (scorched wholes), LWP, SWP, SP, BB
Colour	white to pale ivory
Moisture	≤ 5%
Broken kernels in wholes	≤ 5%
Packing	22.68 kg (50 lb) vacuum tins or flexible bags
Shelf life	12 months

Type 6 of 8

Sesame Seed — White / Mixed

Natural and hulled sesame for tahini, bakery and oil pressing.

Kenyan sesame is grown in the semi-arid Eastern and Coast lowlands and around Lake Victoria. Natural sesame is machine-cleaned and sortexed to export purity; hulled sesame (seed coat removed) is available for bakery and tahini. Kenyan seed has high oil content, making it attractive to oil millers.

Typical uses & buyers

Tahini and halva manufacture
Bakery toppings (buns, bread, crackers)
Sesame oil pressing
Confectionery and snack bars

Sample: $2.80/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Types	white, mixed (white/brown), hulled
Purity	99.95% (sortexed), 99/1, 98/2, 97/3
Admixture	≤ 1–3% per grade
Oil content	48–52%
Free fatty acids	≤ 2%
Moisture	≤ 6%
Salmonella	absent (hulled/food grade)
Packing	25 / 50 kg PP bags or 1 MT jumbo bags
Typical 20ft FCL	approx. 18–19 MT

Type 7 of 8

Groundnuts (Peanuts) — Red & Redbeauty

Shelled groundnuts for confectionery, snacks and oil.

Kenyan groundnuts are grown mainly in western Kenya and the Lake Victoria basin. Red-skinned Red Valencia and Redbeauty types are shelled, sorted by size (counts per ounce) and checked for aflatoxin. They are used for snacks, peanut butter and confectionery.

Typical uses & buyers

Roasted and salted snacks
Peanut butter
Confectionery and bakery
Oil pressing

Sample: $2.60/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Types	Red Valencia, Redbeauty, local red
Counts	40/50, 50/60, 60/70, 70/80 kernels per oz
Moisture	≤ 7%
Damaged kernels	≤ 2%
Aflatoxin	tested to destination limits
Packing	25 / 50 kg bags
Shelf life	9–12 months, cool & dry

Type 8 of 8

Sunflower Seed (oilseed / confectionery)

Black oilseed and striped confectionery types.

Sunflower is grown in the Rift Valley, western and eastern Kenya. Black oilseed types are sold to oil crushers; larger striped confectionery seeds are roasted for snacks or hulled for bakery and bird feed.

Typical uses & buyers

Edible oil crushing
Roasted snack seeds
Hulled kernels for bakery
Bird and pet food

Sample: $1.90/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Types	black oilseed, striped confectionery
Oil content	38–44% (oilseed)
Purity	≥ 98%
Moisture	≤ 9%
Packing	50 kg bags or bulk
Typical 20ft FCL	approx. 18 MT

Growing & production areas in Kenya

Growing / production area	Altitude	Notes
Murang'a, Kiambu & Nyeri	1,300–1,900 m	Core macadamia belt with processing plants around Thika.
Embu, Meru & Kirinyaga	1,200–1,800 m	Macadamia from Mt Kenya East smallholders.
Kilifi, Kwale & Lamu (Coast)	0–400 m	Cashew nuts and coastal sesame.
Kitui, Makueni & Tana River	400–1,200 m	Sesame and green grams in semi-arid lowlands.
Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay & Migori	1,100–1,400 m	Groundnuts and sesame in the Lake Victoria basin.

Hulled sesame seeds spilling from a spoon

Trade information

Season

Macadamia: main harvest February–July; kernels shipped year-round. Cashew: October–February. Sesame: harvested after long and short rains (Aug–Sept and Jan–Feb).

Minimum order

Macadamia & cashew kernels: from 1 pallet (~700 kg). Oilseeds: 1 × 20ft FCL (approx. 18–20 MT).

Packaging

Macadamia: 11.34 kg vacuum foil bags, 2 per carton (22.68 kg)
Cashew: 22.68 kg (50 lb) vacuum tins or bags
Sesame, groundnuts, sunflower: 25 / 50 kg PP bags
Jumbo bags (1 MT) for oilseeds

Logistics & Incoterms

Sea from Mombasa in dry containers (kernels in ventilated / lined containers)
Incoterms: FOB Mombasa, CFR, CIF, DAP

Certifications

BRCGS / FSSC 22000 / HACCP (processors)
Organic (EU / USDA) on selected lots
Halal & Kosher on request
GACC registration for China

Export documents

Certificate of Origin
Phytosanitary certificate
Certificate of Analysis (aflatoxin, moisture, micro)
AFA Nuts & Oil Crops Directorate export permit
Fumigation certificate (oilseeds, where required)

HS codes: 0802.62 (macadamia, shelled) · 0802.61 (in shell) · 0801.32 (cashew, shelled) · 1207.40 (sesame) · 1202.42 (groundnuts, shelled) · 1206.00 (sunflower)

Export destinations for Kenyan nuts & oilseeds

Market-specific guidance on ports, transit times and import requirements.

🇨🇳Nuts & Oilseeds to ChinaShanghai (CNSHA)Sea 20–30 days · Air 1–2 days 🇺🇸Nuts & Oilseeds to United StatesNew York / New Jersey (USNYC)Sea 30–42 days · Air 1–2 days 🇩🇪Nuts & Oilseeds to GermanyHamburg (DEHAM)Sea 25–35 days · Air 1 day

Frequently asked questions

Can you export raw in-shell macadamia?

Kenya restricts raw in-shell macadamia exports to encourage local processing. We supply graded kernels and will advise if nut-in-shell is permitted at the time of your order.

What aflatoxin limits do you meet?

We test every lot and match the destination's legal limits (e.g., EU and US limits) with a certificate of analysis.

Buyer guides

Guides for importers

Product Buying Guides

Macadamia Nuts Supplier: Buy Kenyan Macadamia Kernels Wholesale (Style 0–8)

Macadamia styles explained, quality specs, packing and shipping for snack manufacturers and nut traders.

Read guide →

Sourcing Countries

How to Import from Kenya: Best Products, Verified Suppliers & Shipping Guide

A buyer's overview of Kenya's top export products, how sourcing works and how goods get from Kenyan farms and factories to your port.

Read guide →

Import How-To Guides

How to Order Product Samples from Kenya & East Africa: Pricing, Invoice and Shipping

Exactly how our sample orders work — from calculation to invoice, payment and courier.

Read guide →

Ready to import from Kenya?

Tell us the product, variety, quantity, Incoterm (FOB / CIF / CFR / DAP) and your destination port or airport. We reply with a formal quotation, usually within one business day.

Request a Quotation Order a Sample