Tanzania's Cashew Exports Hit TSh 1.5 Trillion

Tanzania's Cashew Export Revenue Soars Amid Focus on Value Addition

Monday, March 24, 2025

Dar es Salaam – Tanzania has seen a sharp increase in its cashew export earnings, a surge attributed to higher production volumes and a strategic shift towards value addition in processing.

According to the latest Monthly Economic Review released by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) in February, export revenues from cashew nuts climbed to TSh 1.544 trillion in the year ending January 2025, up significantly from TSh 585.77 billion recorded in the same period the previous year.

This substantial growth aligns with a steady rise in production, which has reached 500,000 tonnes in the 2024/2025 season, doubling from 240,158 tonnes in 2022.

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing domestic processing capacity, with the aim of achieving 100% value addition by 2030/31, when production is projected to hit one million tonnes annually.

Speaking at the opening of a week-long training session for 75 cashew industry professionals from nine African countries, Rashid Tamatamah—representing the Director General of the Tanzania Cashew Board (TCB)—highlighted that exporting processed cashews has been key to the sector’s improved financial performance, compared to the earlier practice of exporting raw nuts.

“Despite this progress, only 10% of the 500,000 tonnes produced last season were processed locally. We have strategic plans underway to ensure all our cashew nuts undergo value addition before export,” said Tamatamah.

To support this agenda, the government has allocated 1,518 acres in Mtwara for the development of an industrial park focused on cashew processing. Of that land, 354 acres are currently under development, including two warehouses, each with a 10,000-tonne storage capacity.

“Our goal is to ensure that 100% of domestically produced cashew nuts are shelled before entering export markets,” Tamatamah added.

The government's production forecast anticipates 700,000 tonnes for the 2025/2026 season, with a longer-term target of one million tonnes by 2030/31. This vision is supported by consistent revenue growth, with cashew exports rising from TSh 478.81 billion in 2022, to TSh 563.01 billion in 2023, and TSh 585.77 billion in 2024. Projections estimate further growth to TSh 1.63 trillion in 2025.

To enhance farmer engagement, Tamatamah noted the TCB's efforts to ensure farmers are actively represented on the board. Additionally, last year, 500 young people received training in cashew farming and were deployed to rural areas to assist local growers—an initiative aimed at boosting productivity.

Ernest Mintah, Executive Director of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), emphasized Africa's rising role in global cashew production. He noted that the continent's share of global raw cashew output has doubled from 30% in 2006 to nearly 60% today, largely driven by West African countries like Ivory Coast, while East Africa—particularly Tanzania—has recorded remarkable growth.

“Despite the increase in production, it's disheartening that less than 20% of Africa’s cashew output is processed on the continent. A significant portion is shipped raw to countries such as Vietnam and India, resulting in missed employment opportunities,” Mintah said.

He stressed that to scale up raw cashew processing across Africa, there is a pressing need for deeper investment in workforce training and enhanced efficiency.

Professor Edda Lwoga, representing the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, underlined the evolving nature of agriculture. “Modern agriculture is no longer just about planting and harvesting. It is a dynamic sector that demands new skills, innovative methods, and strong collaboration between farmers, processors, and all stakeholders across the value chain,” she said.

The training program, which drew participants from Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, is expected to strengthen the expertise and operational effectiveness of professionals across the entire cashew value chain.