Nigeria’s cashew exports to EU rise by 12 per cent

Nigeria’s cashew exports to the European Union climbed to 3,035 metric tonnes in 2025, representing a 12 per cent increase from the 2,709 tons shipped in 2024, a performance that stood out in a year of uneven supply from several African producers.

Globally, Nigeria’s cashew nut exports surged to $398.135 million in the first half (H1) of last year , representing an 81.15 per cent  increase compared to $219.780 million in the same period of 2024.

New trade data from Mundus Agri, a news and trading platform for the global food and feed commodity market, showed that Nigeria was among the few countries to expand exports to the EU at a time when competition intensified and prices surged.

Mundus Agri said in its latest market update EU imported a total of 193,772 tons of cashews in 2025, up 4.6 percent from 185,189 tons the previous year. Vietnam remained by far the largest supplier, increasing its exports to the EU by 4.7 per cent to 138,287 tons and consolidating its dominance of the European market. Côte d’Ivoire posted the strongest growth among major exporters, boosting shipments by nearly 35 per cent to 32,153 tons, a performance that reflects the country’s expanding role as a leading raw cashew origin.

India, traditionally a cornerstone of the global cashew processing industry, moved in the opposite direction. Its exports to the EU fell by almost 14 per cent to 8,774 tons, highlighting structural shifts in trade flows and the growing competition faced by Asian processors from African raw nut suppliers.

Beyond volumes, the value of the EU cashew market surged sharply. According to Mundus Agri, the bloc’s cashew import bill rose to just over €1.24 billion in 2025, almost 21 percent higher than in 2024.

“The increase was driven not only by higher import volumes but, more importantly, by a significant rise in prices,” the platform noted, with the average import price climbing to €6.41 per kilogramme.

Nigeria remains a relatively small supplier compared with Côte d’Ivoire or Vietnam, the increase in shipments translated into stronger export earnings and renewed attention on the country’s cashew sector.

 Nigeria has the potential to play a larger role in the EU market if longstanding challenges around quality consistency, logistics and domestic processing are addressed.

Last year, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said the country was pushing to expand its foothold in the global cashew industry.

Executive Director/Chief Executive, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni emphasised the rising significance of cashew within Nigeria’s export portfolio.

According to export data, cashew nuts surged to the third position among 234 products exported from Nigeria in the first half of last year, recording a value of $398.135 million, an 81.15  per cent increase compared to $219.780 million in the same period in 2024.

Cashew kernels also showed significant growth, moving from the 18th position in 2024 to 14th in the first half of last year, with exports rising 40.29 per cent  to $26.851 million.

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According to her, these trends reflect a growing global demand for both raw and value-added cashew products and underline Nigeria’s increasing relevance in the global nut trade.

“Nigeria currently ranks 4th globally in cashew nut production, reflecting the immense capacity we hold as a nation to lead in this dynamic industry. These figures are not just statistics, they are a powerful signal that the time to invest, innovate, and scale the cashew value chain is now.

 “Over the last decade, the global cashew industry has witnessed robust growth, fueled by rising demand for cashew nuts and kernels in health-conscious markets across Europe, North America, and Asia,” Ayeni said.

She added that Nigeria, blessed with vast arable land and enterprising farmers, is well-positioned to become a dominant player in the dynamic global value chain.

She highlighted the opportunities include, a surge in global demand for cashew products, Increasing awareness of cashews as a nutritious, value-packed food, Strong potential for local value addition and industrial processing and the empowerment of smallholder farmers through improved livelihoods.

However, she acknowledged challenges facing the sector, including price volatility, climate-related risks, quality control, and limited access to finance for smallholder farmers. Addressing these issues, NEPC pledged to deepen public-private collaboration, expand technical support, and improve institutional frameworks to drive sustainable industry growth.

NEPC called on farmers, processors, exporters, policymakers, and investors to harness the tool for strategic planning and to work collectively to position Nigeria not just as a cashew exporter, but as a hub for premium, value-added cashew products in the global marketplace.