Cashew Nuts – Profile

NIGERIA CASHEW FACTS

Production

• 60 years in production.
• 220 – 240,000 tonnes inshell.
• 6^th largest in the World.
• 3^rd in Africa.
• 22 States Producing.
• Smallholders and commercial farmers.
• Yields 300-800 kgs p/ha.
• Improving quality.
• Early crop Feb-April.

Trends

• Production growth 10% CAGR 10 years.
• Replacement of aging trees.
• Growth forecast to continue.
• New varieties Brazil Jumbo and Medium.
• Quality “Ogbomosho” 47-49lbs/ 190 nut count.
• Quality “Nigerian” 42-46lbs 195-205 nut count.

Markets

• 85% exported inshell ( 81% Vietnam, 19% India)
• Kernels processing 7 – 10,000 tonnes RCN.
• Kernels exports growing 8% CAGR 5 Yr.

Did you know?

• Nigeria’s cashew sector is undergoing rapid development. Aging trees are being replaced with new high quality varieties. Commercial cashew farming is taking off and better post-harvest handling is solving the old problem of difficult peeling. 

• Nigeria has the lowest export taxes on RCN in Africa. 

• Nigeria can process 25,000 – 35,000 tonnes of cashew every year but is currently only utilising about one third of the capacity. This too is changing. 

• Nigeria has West Africa’s largest domestic cashew kernel market. It is likely to grow as the economy develops.

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