Cashew is no longer just a source of export revenue for Côte d’Ivoire. It has become a real driver of development and social transformation in many regions, particularly in the North, Northeast, and Central regions, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé stated at the opening of the 2nd edition of the Cashew, Cotton and Shea Producer Days, held on February 6, 2026, in Yamoussoukro.

Robert Beugré Mambé explained that the institutional framework of the cashew sector has enabled a significant increase in production volumes, which rose from 450,000 tons in 2012 to more than 1.5 million tons in 2025. This growth allowed export revenues to exceed 1,000 billion CFA francs in 2025.

Côte d’Ivoire’s position as the world’s leading producer and exporter of raw cashew nuts since 2021, accounting for more than 25% of global production, is, according to the Head of Government, the result of deep and bold reforms carried out in recent years to promote the sustainable development of the sector. These reforms focused, on the one hand, on restructuring the sector and supporting producers to improve quality and productivity, as well as facilitating storage and marketing of cashew nuts.

Furthermore, the establishment of a favorable ecosystem for local cashew processing, with the emergence of agro-industrial zones dedicated to cashew production in producing areas, has enabled Côte d’Ivoire to increase its local processing rate from 2% in 2011 representing less than 10,000 tons processed to more than 42% in 2025, with over 660,000 tons of cashew nuts processed.

There are currently more than thirty-seven (37) processing plants across the country, including twenty-four (24) owned at more than 50% by Ivorians. These facilities generate nearly 20,000 direct jobs, approximately 66% of which are held by women.