Côte d’Ivoire’s exports of cashew kernels surged 52% to reach 72,000 metric tons in 2024, according to the latest foreign trade data from the national Customs Directorate.
The volume is more than five times the 13,500 tons shipped in 2020, highlighting the rapid growth of the country’s cashew sector.
The increase reflects a significant scale-up in domestic cashew processing. Official figures indicate that cashew kernel production more than tripled over four years, rising from 103,103 tons in 2020 to 344,000 tons in 2024.
This expansion follows years of sustained public and private investment, during which the number of active processing plants grew from 17 in 2016 to over 35 by 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Ecofin Agency reported.
Key international operators in the sector include Singapore’s Olam and Dorado Ivory, Vietnam’s Quang Thien Imex, as well as leading Ivorian firms such as Ecocajou, Eden Foods, and Geppa Industries.
Higher export volumes have translated into increased earnings. In 2024, Côte d’Ivoire generated approximately USD 440.5 million (249.1 billion XOF) in revenue from cashew kernel exports, nearly double the previous year and six times the USD 65.2 million recorded in 2020.
Despite these gains, processed kernels still account for roughly 30% of the cashew sector’s total export income, which reached nearly 728.1 billion XOF in 2024, as raw nuts continue to dominate shipments, consistent with trends across most African producing countries.
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Looking ahead, the share of processed kernels is expected to grow further. Since early 2025, two new processing plants have become operational.
The first, located in Attiengué, is operated by Singapore-based Valency International and has an annual capacity of 45,000 tons. The second, in Oussou, is managed by fellow Singaporean group Robust International, with a capacity of 37,440 tons per year.
Meanwhile, the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCC) is collaborating with local and foreign investors on new industrial projects aimed at increasing national processing capacity, supporting the government’s target of processing 50% of the country’s cashew harvest by 2030.
During the Cashew Sector Investment Forum held on September 23, 2024, in Abidjan, the CCC secured investment commitments from three international companies totaling USD 28 million for new processing projects.
In November 2024, the council also concluded an agreement with Emirati group Rosyson, which plans to invest USD 24 million in a new processing facility.
Once implemented, these projects are expected to further raise domestic kernel output and expand the volumes available for export.
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Image Credit: FARA
