Jane and her team have ambitious plans to expand their operations into the production of specialty oils, such as sesame, moringa, and baobab, in addition to their core business of exporting Kenya’s most expensive nuts - macadamia nuts. Macadamia nuts are considered the most expensive nuts in the world owing to their high demand that is outpacing supply.
Patrick Mukundi Mbogo, who started a small macadamia nut trading enterprise in 2010, has grown it into one of Kenya’s largest macadamia exporters. His company, Privamnut, now has the capacity to process around 7,000 metric tons of raw nuts per year, resulting in 1,200 tons of exportable kernel. Privamnut is currently the fourth largest of around 10 major macadamia exporters in Kenya, exporting to international markets where demand continues to outstrip supply.
The prices of macadamia nuts have fluctuated significantly over the years, from lows of around $0.60 per kilogram during the COVID-19 pandemic to highs of over $1.50 per kilogram, with a long-term average of around $1.10 per kilogram. A full 20ft container of shelled macadamia nuts can now sell for up to $300,000, almost double what Mukundi would receive when he first started out.
Citations:
[1] https://mwakilishi.com/?page=550
[2] https://www.mwakilishi.com/article/business-news/2024-06-06/the-visionary-minds-exporting-kenyas-priciest-nuts
[3] https://twitter.com/FarmersTrend/status/1798998702205608221
[4] https://biznakenya.com/most-expensive-nuts/
[5] https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/kenya-making-money-exporting-the-worlds-most-expensive-nut/122793/