Cashew: “Côte d’Ivoire processes more than it exports,” Issa Konaté tells VINACAS

At the 15th VINACAS Golden Cashew Rendezvous, held from October 26 to 28, 2026, Issa Konaté, deputy director general of Côte d’Ivoire’s Cotton and Cashew Council, outlined the progress of the country’s cashew sector. Despite a climate-related decline, production reached 1.3 million tonnes in 2026, keeping Côte d’Ivoire the world’s leading producer. For the first time, the country is processing about 750,000 metric tonnes locally, compared with 600,000 tonnes of raw nuts exported. The government supports processors with financial incentives and plans tax exemptions on equipment, while the industry is also investing in technology and by-product processing.