Côte d’Ivoire continues to strengthen its position in the cashew industry. In 2025, the country processed approximately 600,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, representing 82 percent of all cashew processing in West Africa, according to recent data from Sika Finance.

This achievement confirms Abidjan as a regional industrial hub, with local processing units playing a key role in adding value to the sector. With around 37 operational factories, Côte d’Ivoire now has a substantial industrial capacity that allows it to reduce dependence on raw cashew exports and increase the production of shelled cashews ready for export.

Experts attribute this progress to several factors: better availability of raw materials, efforts to curb smuggling, and government policies supporting the expansion of local processing capacity. These measures have also contributed to job creation and boosted industrial zones around Abidjan.

Côte d’Ivoire now dominates cashew processing in West Africa, far ahead of its neighbors, consolidating its position as a regional leader and reinforcing Abidjan’s reputation as a strategic industrial hub for the cashew sector.

With sustained growth, industry professionals are optimistic about the future, hoping to achieve new records in processing in the coming years and strengthen the country’s competitiveness on the global market.