Côte d’Ivoire ramps up local equipment assembly to boost cashew processing sector
Country pushes for greater self-reliance as it eyes 50% processing target by 2030
COTE D’VOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire has moved to reduce its dependence on imported machinery by signing a new deal aimed at assembling cashew nut processing equipment locally.
On May 30, the Cotton and Cashew Council of Côte d’Ivoire entered a five-year renewable partnership with Vietnam’s Cashew Machines Vietnam Company Limited (CMV).
The agreement will see the establishment of an assembly and spare parts center within the country, a move expected to improve access to equipment and reduce factory downtime.
In a press statement, the council said, “Cashew Machines Vietnam, with more than ten years of experience and a 12,000 m² industrial site, will make its technological expertise, know-how and commitment to a high-performance local industry available to Côte d’Ivoire.”
The new center will also provide training for Ivorian technicians on how to use and maintain the equipment.
This move supports Côte d’Ivoire’s broader goal to process half of its cashew nut harvest locally by 2030. In 2024, the country processed 36% of its 1.3 million-ton harvest.
While it currently ranks third globally in cashew processing behind Vietnam and India, local authorities hope that more in-country assembly and technician training will strengthen its position.
By setting up local equipment assembly and spare parts storage, the council expects to reduce reliance on imports and speed up factory setups and expansions.
Until now, companies looking to process cashews have mostly depended on machines shipped from Vietnam and India. This dependency often leads to delays and increased costs.
The training component of the partnership is another important aspect. With more Ivorian technicians skilled in maintenance and operations, the country hopes to reduce factory breakdowns and increase productivity.
Growth in by-product processing
The CMV partnership is not the only recent investment in the sector. Just days earlier, on May 27, Foods’co SA signed a deal with Belgian investor Bio Invest for a $3.4 million project focused on cashew shell processing.
The project will set up a unit to extract cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and produce shell charcoal, helping reduce waste and pressure on forests.
Tahirou Sanogo, CEO of Foods’co SA, said, “It will allow us to save money, avoid cutting down trees, and preserve the environment. It’s an important project to safeguard the forest.”
Although construction timelines for the new plant have not yet been shared, the move is in line with Côte d’Ivoire’s growing interest in processing all parts of the cashew nut.
Côte d’Ivoire, already the world’s top producer of raw cashew nuts, is pushing to match its farming success with stronger local processing.
If the forecasted 650,000-ton supply to processors in 2025 is achieved, the country could hit its 50% processing goal, with the added benefit of more shells available for use in value-added products.
In 2023, the sector earned 756 billion CFA francs (around US$1.3 billion) from the export of raw cashew nuts and kernels, according to figures from the General Directorate of Customs.
With this new momentum, Côte d’Ivoire is setting the stage for a stronger, more self-sufficient cashew industry.
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