Côte d’Ivoire: Cashew Sector Regulator Extends Measures to Secure the Industry

In Côte d’Ivoire, the cashew marketing season began on February 9, 2026. The country is the world’s leading producer of cashew nuts. To support local businesses, the sector regulator has taken a measure: the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA) has extended by one week the period during which Ivorian companies can purchase raw cashew nuts from producers with priority.

This measure aims to secure the supply for Ivorian processors, according to a source within the CCA.

So far, the CCA reports “a very good start” to the season, with farm-gate prices respected and products regularly collected from producers, the source adds. For Ivorian processors, this measure is seen as a breath of fresh air. “It will allow us to get a head start,” said a representative of the Ivorian Processors’ Association. The government has set ambitious targets: 700,000 tons of cashew nuts processed locally.

Over the past three years, several measures have been implemented to support Ivorian processors against highly competitive Asian companies. These include access to a starter stock representing 20% of their purchasing capacity, financial subsidies from the state, and financing from the National Investment Bank.

A Drop in Production

The only downside: farmers report a decrease in production. While statistics are not yet available, reaching the target of 1.5 million tons this year will be challenging, acknowledges one producer. “This decline is due to early rains in January that disrupted the cashew trees,” the producer explains.

As a result, the first harvest was not satisfactory. Attention is now turning to the second cashew harvest, which is expected to conclude by the end of April.