Côte d’Ivoire: Cashew Kernel Sales Expected to Reach $623 Million in 2025

Since 2015, Côte d’Ivoire has been the world’s leading producer of cashew nuts. With harvests that have already exceeded 1.5 million tonnes, the country is also gaining momentum in local processing.

In 2025, export revenues from processed cashew nuts are expected to reach a new milestone. According to statements by Mamadou Berté, Director of the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA), reported by Reuters, the value of cashew kernel sales is projected at 350 billion CFA francs (around $623 million) for the year, representing a 67% increase compared to the previous result of 209 billion CFA francs.

This projected surge is mainly driven by the strong performance of the processing segment. The volume of cashew nuts processed by industrial players is expected to rise from 344,028 tonnes in 2024 to 659,579 tonnes in 2025, an increase of 91.7%. In the WAEMU’s largest economy, 37 processing units with a total installed capacity of 830,000 tonnes are now operational, compared to fewer than 10 in 2015. This growth has been fueled by increasing investments from both local and foreign stakeholders, encouraged by fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

As the authorities aim to process 50% of national production locally by 2030, Mr. Berté noted that around ten new projects are expected to soon add 200,000 tonnes of additional capacity to the industry.

Currently the second-largest exporter of cashew kernels after Vietnam, Côte d’Ivoire produced approximately 1.5 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts in 2025, compared with 944,673 tonnes in 2024 and 1.2 million tonnes in 2023, according to CCA data.