Below are some interesting details regarding the current production of Cashews throughout the world
Production of Cashews
As of 2017, Cote d’Ivoire is the largest producer of Cashews in the World
In 2015, global production of cashew nuts (as the kernel) was 738,861 tonnes, led by India and Côte d’Ivoire each with 23% of the world total (table). Vietnam and Brazil also had significant production of cashew kernels.
In 2014, rapid growth of cashew cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire made this country the top African exporter.[14] Fluctuations in world market prices, poor working conditions, and low pay for local harvesting have caused discontent in the cashew nut industry
Mr Edgar Maokola-Majogo, acting President African Cashew Alliance (ACA), on Tuesday said Africa was the largest producer of raw cashew nuts in the world with an estimated annual output of 1.2 million metric tons as of March 23, 2016
Production Regions in Africa
Cashew trees are widely cultivated for their nuts and derived products in West, East and South Africa. The West Africa region is producing at almost the same level as South Asian countries, while East Africa is currently facing a decline in the production of cashews.
Major cashew nut producing countries in Africa are Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin. Less than 10% of the raw cashew produced in the region is processed locally.
Production challenges
Most of the Cashews in Africa are processed locally thus, depriving the local economies of the value add of their products.
The local processing industry consists of industrial processors, mainly targeting the bulk export market and semi-industrial facilities that sell mainly in local markets and cottage processors. The informal groups process irregularly without investments in equipment and buildings and sell locally. The processing capacity of the industrial processors is said to be more than 1,000 million metric tons of raw nuts/year.
Africa produces around 40% of the estimated 2.6 million metric tons of raw cashew product worldwide every year. 