Mozambique’s cashew nut sector is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with sales in the latest campaign reaching 195,400 tonnes, a figure that closely mirrors the country’s historic production records from the 1970s. This impressive performance positions Mozambique, once a global leader in cashew production, on the cusp of reclaiming its former prominence.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the 2024/2025 cashew campaign saw sales approaching the over 200,000 tonnes per year achieved during the colonial period, approximately 50 years ago. In 1973, before its independence, Mozambique was the world’s second-largest producer, processing a substantial 210,000 tonnes, largely for export to India, which remains a key market today.
Following Mozambique’s independence on June 25, 1975, cashew production plummeted to a mere 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes annually. However, official historical data indicates a consistent annual growth trend since that period of decline.
The cashew value chain is a vital economic driver in Mozambique, supporting approximately 1,047,000 families, 69 companies, and 7,287 workers nationwide. In Maputo province alone, 32,168 families are involved in this activity, highlighting its significance as a major consumption hub and a generator of numerous business opportunities.
“In these 50 years of independence, the almond value chain has been an inexhaustible source of opportunities by guaranteeing the generation of jobs, with cashew and macadamia being cash crops that make a strong contribution to the socioeconomic development of communities, even though they are exposed to several challenges arising from climate change,” stated the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Mozambican government is optimistic about continued growth, projecting a 23% increase in cashew nut production this year to 218,900 tonnes. This anticipated surge is complemented by an expected 26% expansion in cultivation area, reaching 64,000 hectares across the country in the current agricultural season, up from 50,600 hectares that yielded 177,650 tonnes in the previous season.
To further bolster the industry, the government plans to invest 90 million meticais (€1.2 million) this year in the production, distribution, and planting of 6,674,660 cashew tree seedlings. Additionally, a significant effort will be made to chemically treat 9,270,000 cashew trees against pests and diseases.
Mozambique’s cashew nut exports have already demonstrated strong growth. In 2024, export income surged by 71% to a record US$98.2 million (€83.7 million), according to the Bank of Mozambique’s statistical report. This follows export figures of $57.3 million (€48.9 million) in 2023, $51.7 million (€44.1 million) in 2022, and just $30 million (€25.6 million) in 2021, illustrating a rapid upward trajectory.
While progress is evident, challenges remain. The 2024 budget execution report from the Ministry of Finance revealed that approximately 4.8 million cashew seedlings were produced and 4.4 million distributed last year. These figures, however, were 8% and 5% less than the previous year, respectively. Despite this, the distributed seedlings covered around 65,303 producing families, including 16,175 headed by women, and were planted in an area of approximately 87,056 hectares with a survival rate of 89%.
