West Africa grows most of the world’s raw cashews and is now, at last, processing them at home. Regional processing rose about 51% in 2025 to roughly 732,000 tonnes (from 483,500 tonnes in 2024, per the African Cashew Alliance), driven by Côte d’Ivoire, and reinforced by policy across the region: Benin banned raw-nut exports in April 2024, and Côte d’Ivoire reserves purchasing windows for local processors. After decades of exporting nuts raw and importing back the value, West Africa is building the factories to keep that value on the continent — and that means unprecedented demand for processing machinery and turnkey plants. CASHEW TECH serves the region end to end, from a single machine to a fully commissioned turnkey plant.
This hub gives the regional picture and links to each country; for how the machines and plants work, follow the machine and service links.
Why West Africa, Why Now
Two forces have flipped the region’s model. First, value-addition policy: governments have realised that a tonne of kernels is worth far more than a tonne of raw nuts, and they are using export bans and local-purchase windows to keep the crop at home. Second, supply: West Africa’s raw production dwarfs every other origin, so factories here enjoy the shortest, cheapest raw-material line in the world. The result is a wave of first-time processors who need exactly what a turnkey partner supplies — design, machinery, power, installation, and commissioning on the ground. For a machinery buyer, there has never been a stronger moment to enter these markets.
The Key Markets
| Country | Raw cashew (approx.) | The hook |
|---|---|---|
| Côte d’Ivoire | ~1.04 M t (world #1) | Processing ~600,000 t in 2025 (+67%); purchasing windows for local processors |
| Benin | ~204,000 t | Raw-nut export ban (Apr 2024); processing doubled in 2025 |
| Ghana | ~120,000 t | Policy support (TCDA); early-mover opportunity |
| Guinea-Bissau | ~120,000 t | Cashew ≈ 90% of exports, almost all raw — huge value-add gap |
| Nigeria | major producer | Growing processing base |
| Burkina Faso | landlocked origin | Established processing units |
| Senegal · Togo | ~85,000 t · ~34,000 t | Growing origin & Lomé trade-hub logistics |
Mali is also a significant origin; contact us for markets not listed.
What CASHEW TECH Supplies Across West Africa
Complete turnkey plants — design, machinery, electricals, steam (boiler or shell burner), installation, commissioning, and training — plus the full machine range and consulting: project report, factory layout, advisory, and financing & subsidy guidance. We support first-time processors on the ground, which is where single-source turnkey delivery removes the most risk.
Get Started
Tell us your country, target capacity, and raw-nut supply, and we will scope a plant. Request a quote or book a consultation, or message us on WhatsApp from the button in the corner of any page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is cashew processing growing in West Africa? Governments are using export bans and local-purchase windows to keep raw nuts at home for processing, and the region has the world’s largest raw supply — so processing rose about 51% in 2025.
Which West African country produces the most cashews? Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest producer at about 1.04 million tonnes, followed by Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Which countries have banned raw cashew exports? Benin banned raw-nut exports in April 2024; Côte d’Ivoire reserves purchasing windows for local processors. Policies vary by country and season.
Can CASHEW TECH build plants across West Africa? Yes — complete turnkey plants and individual machines, with on-the-ground installation and commissioning, in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and beyond.