Cashew Nuts – Profile
November 6, 2021
NIGERIA CASHEW FACTS
Production
- 60 years in production.
- 220 – 240,000 tonnes inshell.
- 6th largest in the World.
- 3rd 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.
