Robust International secures US$15M to boost sesame, cashew processing in Africa
AFRICA – Robust International, a major processor and trader of agricultural commodities in Africa, will receive US$15 million in funding from Swedfund, the Swedish development finance institution.
This investment is part of a larger US$105 million credit line involving multiple financial institutions, including FMO, BII, Proparco, and ILX.
The financial support aims to improve the supply of raw materials for Robust International’s processing facilities in Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso.
With this funding, the company will be able to purchase sesame seeds and cashew nuts directly from farmers in these countries. This move is expected to strengthen local trade, generate jobs, and contribute to economic growth.
According to Swedfund, this investment aligns with its goal of supporting sustainable economic development in Africa.
The organization emphasized that direct sourcing from farmers would enhance efficiency and create stability in the supply chain.
This development follows a previous US$20 million investment from the United States Chamber of Commerce in September 2024, which was intended to support Robust International’s cashew processing projects in Nigeria.
With the latest funding, the company is expanding its reach across more African nations, increasing its capacity to process agricultural products locally rather than exporting raw materials.
The funding arrives as the demand for sesame and cashew nuts continues to grow in Africa. Market analysis from Indian consulting firm Mordor Intelligence projects that the African sesame seed market will increase by 2.6% to reach US$8.72 billion by 2029.
Meanwhile, the cashew market, currently valued at about US$823 million, is expected to hit US$985 million by the same year.
With Africa playing a key role in global sesame and cashew production, countries like Sudan, Tanzania, and Nigeria lead in sesame seed output, while Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Guinea-Bissau dominate cashew production.
Sudan remains the largest producer of sesame seeds, contributing over 11.19 million metric tons, while Côte d’Ivoire leads in cashew production with 1.36 million tonnes annually.
Industry experts believe that increased investments in processing facilities will help African countries retain more value from their agricultural products.
“By shifting from raw exports to local processing, Africa stands to gain significantly in terms of revenue and employment,” a market analyst stated.
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