Côte d’Ivoire cuts minimum cashew price for 2026 season

CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire set the minimum farm price for cashew nuts at 400 CFA francs (about US$0.66) per kilogram for the 2026 season, marking a 6 percent reduction from last year’s level, the agriculture minister said on February 6 in Yamoussoukro.

Bruno Nabagné Koné, the Minister of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, told journalists that market forces overseas weighed on local pricing. “Global demand for cashew kernels has slowed, and buyers remain cautious after tariff changes in major import markets,” he said.

According to officials, slower purchases by the United States and other large markets pushed prices down on world exchanges.

Mr. Koné added that authorities want to protect farmers while keeping the national crop sellable to buyers abroad and at home. He said the government may raise the floor price later if world markets strengthen.

Cashew farming employs about 800,000 families in Côte d’Ivoire, which remains the world’s top raw cashew producer. Last season the sector handled record volumes even as international demand fluctuated.

Farmers and traders react

Some producer groups welcomed the government’s effort to maintain sales, but others said the price cut could hurt farm incomes. “We were hoping for a stronger showing from foreign buyers, but demand has not met expectations,” said Kanigui Touré, a cooperative leader in the Bondoukou region. “Smallholders will need support to cover their costs at this price.”

Farmers noted that costs for labour and farm supplies have risen, even as the price fell. They said they will press for more support from both the government and private sector buyers as the season unfolds.

Local traders expressed mixed opinions. Some said the reduced floor price may draw in more processing firms, while others warned that weak demand abroad could limit opportunities for export.

Regional price trends

Across West Africa, similar trends have emerged. Ghana recently set its producer price at 12 cedis per kilogram, about US$1.04 per kilogram, for the 2025/26 season.

That figure represents a 20 percent drop from the previous season, according to the Tree Crops Development Authority there. Critics in Ghana’s cashew sector said the cut could hurt smallholder farmers who already face rising costs of production.

Industry analysts said buyers in Vietnam and India still import large volumes of raw cashew nuts from West Africa, but shifts in demand and quality standards influence buying decisions more than ever. Early trade data show imports into key markets have fluctuated in recent months as buyers balance cost and quality factors.

As Côte d’Ivoire begins the 2026 season under the new price rule, stakeholders will watch global buying patterns and local costs closely. They say how markets respond in the coming months could shape farmer earnings and regional trade flows for the year ahead.

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