Nigeria’s cashew exports to the European Union climbed to 3,035 metric tonnes in 2025, marking a 12 percent increase from the 2,709 tonnes recorded in 2024, a notable performance in a year when supply from several African producers remained uneven.
Beyond Europe, Nigeria’s cashew trade delivered an even stronger signal on the global stage. Export earnings from cashew nuts surged to $398.135 million in the first half of last year, representing an 81.15 percent increase compared to $219.780 million recorded in the same period of 2024.
Fresh trade data from Mundus Agri, a leading news and trading platform for the global food and feed commodity market, showed that Nigeria was among a small group of countries that expanded shipments to the EU at a time of intensifying competition and rising prices.
According to the platform’s latest market update, the European Union imported a total of 193,772 tonnes of cashews in 2025, up 4.6 percent from 185,189 tonnes in the previous year. Vietnam retained its dominant position, increasing exports to the EU by 4.7 percent to 138,287 tonnes. Côte d’Ivoire recorded the strongest growth among major exporters, boosting shipments by nearly 35 percent to 32,153 tonnes, underlining its expanding role as a leading raw cashew origin.
India, long regarded as a pillar of global cashew processing, moved in the opposite direction. Its exports to the EU fell by almost 14 percent to 8,774 tonnes, reflecting shifting trade patterns and growing competition from African raw nut suppliers.
In value terms, the EU cashew market expanded sharply. Mundus Agri reported that the bloc’s cashew import bill rose to just over €1.24 billion in 2025, nearly 21 percent higher than in 2024. The increase was driven largely by higher prices, with the average import price climbing to €6.41 per kilogramme.
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Although Nigeria remains a smaller supplier compared to Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire, the rise in export volumes translated into stronger earnings and renewed focus on the country’s cashew sector. Analysts note that Nigeria could significantly increase its share of the EU market if long-standing challenges related to quality consistency, logistics and domestic processing are effectively addressed.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has reiterated the country’s ambition to deepen its presence in the global cashew industry. Executive Director and Chief Executive of the council, Nonye Ayeni, said cashew had become one of Nigeria’s most valuable non-oil exports.
Export data show that cashew nuts rose to third place among 234 products exported from Nigeria in the first half of last year, while cashew kernels also recorded strong growth, moving from 18th position in 2024 to 14th, with export value increasing by over 40 percent to $26.851 million.
Ayeni said the figures reflect rising global demand for both raw and processed cashew products and underscore Nigeria’s growing relevance in the international nut trade. She noted that Nigeria currently ranks fourth globally in cashew nut production, a position that highlights the country’s capacity to lead in the sector if investments and reforms are sustained.
She added that growth in the global cashew industry over the past decade has been driven by health-conscious consumers across Europe, North America and Asia, creating fresh opportunities for countries with strong agricultural bases. Nigeria, she said, is well placed to benefit through value addition, expanded processing and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
However, challenges remain, including price volatility, climate risks, quality control gaps and limited access to finance for farmers. The NEPC said it would intensify public and private sector collaboration, expand technical support and strengthen institutional frameworks to ensure sustainable growth.
The council called on farmers, processors, exporters, policymakers and investors to work together to position Nigeria not just as a raw cashew exporter, but as a hub for premium, value-added cashew products in the global market.
