Côte d’Ivoire confirms its position as the world’s leading raw cashew producer

Côte d’Ivoire has maintained its position as the world’s leading producer and exporter of raw cashew nuts, underscoring the growing importance of the crop to the country’s economy.

Ivory Coast’s cashew production exceeded 1.5 million metric tons in 2025, accounting for more than 25% of global output, according to government data. The country has held the top position since 2021.

The sector has expanded significantly over the past decade. Production rose from about 450,000 metric tons in 2012 to more than 1.5 million metric tons in 2025, while export revenues from the sector exceeded 1 trillion CFA francs ($1.7 billion) last year.

Beyond raw production, Abidjan is seeking to expand domestic processing to retain more value within the country. More than 660,000 metric tons of cashew nuts were processed locally in 2025, bringing the processing rate to more than 42%.

The expansion of local processing has strengthened Côte d’Ivoire’s position in the global cashew industry. The country is now the world’s third-largest cashew processor and second-largest exporter of cashew kernels, according to government figures.

The sector is also a major source of economic activity in several regions of the country. Côte d’Ivoire has more than 37 industrial processing plants dedicated to cashew production, generating nearly 20,000 direct jobs, about 66% of which are held by women.

For the Ivorian government, the next challenge is to further increase local processing, reduce reliance on raw cashew exports and capture a larger share of the value generated by the commodity.

The growth of the cashew industry highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s expanding role in global agricultural value chains as the country seeks to turn its position as the world’s top raw cashew producer into a longer-term industrial and economic advantage.