Mozambique has opted to maintain the producer reference price for cashew nuts at 45 meticais (€0.61) per kilo for the upcoming 2025/2026 campaign. The decision is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector, which features one of the country’s most important and fastest-growing cash crops.
The price was set during the first annual session of the Oilseeds Committee in Maputo. Secretary of State for the Sea and Fisheries Momade Juízo defended the price, arguing it provides an incentive and “fair” remuneration for participants across the value chain.
“We will maintain the reference price at 45 meticais [per kilo] and monitor the evolution of market conditions,” Juízo stated, leaving the door open for a reassessment if market dynamics change.
Industry Under Strain
The move comes as the national cashew processing industry faces significant financial strain. Juízo noted that the prevailing macroeconomic situation has led to rising production costs, forcing the closure of several processing units due to a lack of capital and raw material. Protecting the producers’ base price is seen as critical to preventing further erosion of the sector.
Export Ambitions and Historical Recovery
Mozambique is simultaneously looking to expand its export horizons. The government announced it is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding with China to open a new market for cashew and macadamia exports. This agreement is expected to significantly benefit producers, processors, and exporters by diversifying and expanding marketing opportunities.
The sector has recently achieved a historic milestone, with marketing reaching 195,400 tonnes in the 2024/2025 campaign, approaching the record levels of the 1970s. Cashew exports are already a major foreign exchange earner, leading the “traditional products” category with US$38.7 million in the first quarter.
The government estimates that production will surge by an additional 23% this year to 218,900 tonnes. This rebound has seen Mozambique regain its prominence as a major global producer, now ranking seventh worldwide, a remarkable recovery from the post-independence production collapse. The oilseeds value chain is crucial for rural employment, involving over 1 million families and supporting thousands of workers nationwide.
