Despite the effects of the pandemic on the global cashew industry, the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is projecting an increase in cashew production in Africa in 2021.
According to the Alliance, Africa is expected to exceed the over 2.1 million total raw cashew nuts (RCNs) it produced in 2020 and will therefore remain the greatest producer of the commodity in 2021.
A statement issued by the Alliance has observed that, the positive trend of production growth over the past years in West Africa is expected to continue with production estimated to be between 1.6million and 1.8 million tons.
Cote d’ Ivoire is expected to remain the leading cashew producing country in the world, producing about 900,000 tons, close to 100,000 more than it produced last year.
Productions in Nigeria and Ghana are expected to be around the same levels as last year without significant increase or reduction.
Production in Nigeria is estimated to be between 210,000 and 250,000 tons of RCN, “this will be influenced by the level of cashew prices since the quantity of RCN collected” the Alliance has noted.
Ghana’s production is projected to be between 110,000 and 130, 000 tons of raw cashew, around the same levels as in 2020 and in 2019, “we expect significant growth in cashew production in Ghana and for the country to have a fair share of the cashew market in the coming years due to concerted efforts by the government” says the Alliance.
In East Africa
In East Africa, the ACA projects a lower production than expected growth in 2021, especially in the two leading cashew producing countries in the subregion, Tanzania, and Mozambique. This is due to changes in weather, the cyclone, and the impact of security emergency in the subregion. Production in Tanzania, they have estimated, could fall to as low as 225,000 tons by the end of the year.
However, total global production of cashew is expected to be between 3.5millon and 3.8million tons and expected to meet the increasing global demand for cashew, especially in Europe and America.
Africa will produce 54% of global production with 21% coming from India. Vietnam and Cambodia are projected to produce 17%, Brazil producing 4% and the remaining 4% to be produced by other small
cashew producing areas.
Possible Disruptions
Despite the relatively less impacts Covid 19 has had on the cashew industry, some countries are beginning to have surge in the number of cases and travel and movement restrictions are being
reintroduced.
This may disrupt the cashew market. The ACA takes into consideration the long-term economic impacts the pandemic may have on countries, especially developing countries in Africa.
