Côte d’Ivoire launches US$27M cashew processing plant

COTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s leading producer of cashew nuts, has taken another step to grow its processing capacity with the launch of a new US$27 million facility in Kpouèbo.

At the same time, Tanzania is preparing for a record harvest, setting up a sharper contest between Africa’s two top producers.

On September 22, Prime Minister Robert Beugré inaugurated the new cashew processing unit in Oussou, in the sub-prefecture of Kpouèbo.

The project, led by Singaporean commodity trader Robust International, cost 15 billion CFA francs (US$26.99 million) and covers six hectares.

The plant can process 120 tons of raw nuts per day, or about 37,440 tons annually. It will produce cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid, products that add more value than exporting raw nuts.

“The cashew industry is central to our economic strategy,” Prime Minister Beugré said during the inauguration. “With this investment, Côte d’Ivoire is proving that it does not only grow cashew nuts but also processes them for global markets.”

Figures from the Cotton, Cashew and Shea Council show the industry’s momentum. By May 2025, manufacturers had already secured 650,000 tons of cashew nuts, far above the initial target of 400,000 tons for the season.

The country expects a harvest of 1.5 million tons this year, with nearly half likely to be processed locally.

Tanzania prepares for a larger crop

Tanzania, the second largest producer in Africa, is also making gains. The African Cashew Alliance reports that the 2025/2026 harvest could reach 700,000 tons, up 33 percent from last year’s record of 528,000 tons.

“This projection reflects the impact of new plantations established under the orchard expansion program,” the Ministry of Agriculture stated in its September report.

Production in Tanzania has seen large swings over the past decade, but recent government measures have stabilized growth. Subsidies for high-yield seedlings and fertilizer programs have increased input use by 84 percent since 2019.

Nearly 240,000 subsidized seedlings were distributed to farmers during the 2023/2024 season.

The government also markets cashew harvests through an auction system that secures better prices for farmers. “The auction model has helped farmers gain more from their hard work,” said an official from the Cashew Board of Tanzania.

Processing remains the missing link

Despite these advances, Tanzania still processes only about 5 percent of its cashew output, compared with Côte d’Ivoire’s growing share. Most of Tanzania’s nuts leave the country in raw form, limiting local value creation.

To change this, the government has partnered with investment firm Arise to build an agro-industrial park in Maranje, Mtwara region. The park, still under construction, will eventually host processing plants with a combined capacity of 600,000 tons per year.

Until the facility becomes operational, Tanzania will continue to depend on exports of raw nuts. Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, is moving faster to secure its role not just as the world’s largest producer but also as a leading processor in the global cashew market.

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