At a Glance
- West Africa dominates global cashew output as Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Benin lead production.
- Governments push local processing to boost jobs, export earnings and farmgate prices.
- Rising Asian and European demand strengthens Africa’s cashew investment outlook.
Africa’s dominance in the global cashew trade is no longer just about volume, it is increasingly about value, policy direction and industrial ambition.
By 2025, the continent is expected to supply more than half of the world’s raw cashew nuts, with West Africa firmly established as the engine room of production.
From Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria and Benin, cashew has become a strategic export crop, generating billions of dollars in foreign exchange and supporting millions of smallholder farmers.
The shift underway is structural. Governments are pushing beyond raw nut exports toward local processing, aiming to retain more value, create jobs and stabilize farmgate prices.
Côte d’Ivoire now sets the continental benchmark, while Nigeria and Tanzania are scaling processing capacity to compete more aggressively in global value chains dominated by Asian processors.
Yet challenges persist. Climate variability, limited access to finance, aging tree stock and weak infrastructure continue to constrain yields and margins.
Still, rising global demand, especially from Asia and Europe, is strengthening the investment case for Africa’s cashew sector.
For investors and policymakers alike, cashew is fast becoming one of the continent’s most commercially and socially significant agricultural assets.
Shore Africa chronicled the 10 biggest cashew-producing countries in Africa, ranked by estimated 2025 output.
1. Côte d’Ivoire
Africa’s largest producer with 1.05 million metric tons, Côte d’Ivoire supplies over 20 percent of global cashew. Aggressive investment in processing has turned the sector into a major employer and a cornerstone of export revenue.
2. Nigeria
Nigeria’s 340,000 metric tons output is backed by federal incentives to boost local processing. Cashew is a fast-growing non-oil export, with rising interest from private processors and foreign buyers.
3. Tanzania
Producing about 280,000 metric tons, Tanzania remains East Africa’s cashew hub. Government-led reforms and quality upgrades are aimed at lifting farmer incomes and rebuilding processing capacity.
4. Benin
With 260,000 metric tons, cashew is one of Benin’s most valuable exports. The sector plays a key role in rural employment, with policy efforts focused on reducing raw nut exports.
5. Burkina Faso
Output of 180,000 metric tons positions cashew as a rising export earner. Expansion of planted areas and cross-border trade with Côte d’Ivoire are driving growth.
6. Ghana
Ghana’s 170,000 metric tons production benefits from strong government backing. Cashew is increasingly viewed as a diversification tool beyond cocoa and gold.
7. Mozambique
Producing 150,000 metric tons, Mozambique is rebuilding a once-dominant cashew industry, supported by factory rehabilitation and farmer productivity programs.
8. Guinea-Bissau
Though smaller in scale, cashew dominates Guinea-Bissau’s economy, accounting for most export earnings. Processing investment remains the sector’s biggest opportunity.
9. Mali
An emerging producer, Mali’s cashew output is rising steadily, driven by favorable agro-climatic conditions and growing regional demand.
10. Senegal
Senegal’s cashew industry is expanding gradually, with emphasis on local processing to boost rural incomes and reduce dependence on raw exports.
