Côte d’Ivoire’s cashew sector anticipates 20% growth in 2025
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire, the global leader in cashew production, is expecting a significant recovery in its 2025 harvest, with projections indicating a 20% increase compared to the previous year.
The announcement was made on January 18 by Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, during the launch of the country’s marketing campaign.
The 2025 harvest is forecasted to reach 1.15 million tonnes, up from 944,667 tonnes in 2024. This rebound comes after a challenging year marked by a 23% decline in production.
Farmers are hopeful that the improved field-side purchase price for cashew nuts, set at 425 CFA francs ($0.66) per kilogram, will attract more participants to the sector. This represents a 54.5% increase from last year’s price of 275 CFA francs ($0.43).
“The new pricing structure is a clear step towards enhancing the livelihoods of our farmers and making the sector more appealing,” Adjoumani said during his address.
While production levels are set to rise, the government is also pushing for greater local processing of cashew nuts. The authorities aim to supply 400,000 tonnes to local manufacturers in 2025, a 16.3% increase from 2024.
Despite this progress, only 34.7% of the expected harvest will be processed locally, falling short of the government’s target of 50% by 2030.
Efforts to expand local processing capacity have included partnerships with international firms. Last November, the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA) finalized an agreement with the Emirati company Rosyson, among other initiatives.
These collaborations aim to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s position in the global cashew market while increasing the sector’s economic impact at home.
Adjoumani acknowledged the need for further investment. “The added value we could achieve through local processing remains under-exploited,” he said.
The announcement comes just months after Côte d’Ivoire secured USD 28.7 million in investments aimed at enhancing the processing industry.
At the Cashew Sector Investment Forum held in Abidjan, three foreign companies pledged their support: TORQ Commodities of the UK committed USD 10 million, India’s Zantye Agro Industries and Austria’s Münzer pledged USD 11.2 million, and UAE-based Agricas Global invested USD 7.5 million.
These investments are expected to create jobs and help Côte d’Ivoire move closer to its processing target.
The nation currently processes only 21% of its cashew harvest locally. However, with sustained international partnerships and domestic reforms, industry leaders are optimistic about achieving the long-term goal.
Côte d’Ivoire’s cashew sector anticipates 20% growth in 2025
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire, the global leader in cashew production, is expecting a significant recovery in its 2025 harvest, with projections indicating a 20% increase compared to the previous year.
The announcement was made on January 18 by Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, during the launch of the country’s marketing campaign.
The 2025 harvest is forecasted to reach 1.15 million tonnes, up from 944,667 tonnes in 2024. This rebound comes after a challenging year marked by a 23% decline in production.
Farmers are hopeful that the improved field-side purchase price for cashew nuts, set at 425 CFA francs ($0.66) per kilogram, will attract more participants to the sector. This represents a 54.5% increase from last year’s price of 275 CFA francs ($0.43).
“The new pricing structure is a clear step towards enhancing the livelihoods of our farmers and making the sector more appealing,” Adjoumani said during his address.
While production levels are set to rise, the government is also pushing for greater local processing of cashew nuts. The authorities aim to supply 400,000 tonnes to local manufacturers in 2025, a 16.3% increase from 2024.
Despite this progress, only 34.7% of the expected harvest will be processed locally, falling short of the government’s target of 50% by 2030.
Efforts to expand local processing capacity have included partnerships with international firms. Last November, the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA) finalized an agreement with the Emirati company Rosyson, among other initiatives.
These collaborations aim to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s position in the global cashew market while increasing the sector’s economic impact at home.
Adjoumani acknowledged the need for further investment. “The added value we could achieve through local processing remains under-exploited,” he said.
The announcement comes just months after Côte d’Ivoire secured USD 28.7 million in investments aimed at enhancing the processing industry.
At the Cashew Sector Investment Forum held in Abidjan, three foreign companies pledged their support: TORQ Commodities of the UK committed USD 10 million, India’s Zantye Agro Industries and Austria’s Münzer pledged USD 11.2 million, and UAE-based Agricas Global invested USD 7.5 million.
These investments are expected to create jobs and help Côte d’Ivoire move closer to its processing target.
The nation currently processes only 21% of its cashew harvest locally. However, with sustained international partnerships and domestic reforms, industry leaders are optimistic about achieving the long-term goal.