10 World’s Largest Country Producers of Cashew Nuts
10 World’s Largest Country Producers of Cashew
Nuts- According FAO
Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts in 2023. These
countries have huge production of cashew Nuts. Functionally, many people are
fond of cashew nuts, and it can be added into making the snack, ingredients of
many dishes, cashew milk, and other dairy alternatives, thickener in soups,
stews, and sauces, and topping of a variety of dishes, such as ice cream,
yogurt, oatmeal, and pancakes. Besides, cashew nuts still could be used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Historically, the cashew tree is basically
native to South America and these plants can be found in several regions in the world.
Nutritionally, according
to Food Data Central (FDC) of USDA, cashew nuts contain some
nutritional substances which are good for human health. Some of the nutritious
contents were Proteins, Lipid, Carbohydrate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,
Phosphorus, Potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. Meanwhile the
amount of each content can be viewed below.
Taxonomically, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information
System (ITIS), cashew plant (Anacardium
occidentale) can be classified into Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta,
Subphylum: Spermatophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Superorder: Rosanae, Order:
Sapindales, Family: Anacardiaceae, Genus: Anacardium L., Species: Anacardium
occidentale L. Because of its classification into Anacardiaceae family, cashew
plant has close relationship with some plant from the same family including
mango, chinese lacquer tree, yellow mombin, Peruvian pepper, poison ivy, poison
oak, sumac, smoke tree, marula and cuachalalate.
The World’s Harvested Areas and World’s Production of Cashew Nuts From 1970 to 2023
|
|
||
|
Years |
World’s Harvested Areas of Cashew Nuts |
World’s Production of Cashew Nuts |
|
|
(Hectares (Ha)) |
(Tons) |
|
1970 |
920,882 |
511,939 |
|
1971 |
979,210 |
558,846 |
|
1972 |
971,954 |
558,142 |
|
1973 |
1,070,282 |
624,348 |
|
1974 |
1,036,496 |
585,246 |
|
1975 |
1,075,962 |
563,785 |
|
1976 |
953,242 |
507,534 |
|
1977 |
951,042 |
519,619 |
|
1978 |
882,611 |
488,642 |
|
1979 |
884,214 |
457,681 |
|
1980 |
948,263 |
464,195 |
|
1981 |
1,023,977 |
494,157 |
|
1982 |
1,056,314 |
488,361 |
|
1983 |
1,009,513 |
474,989 |
|
1984 |
1,081,583 |
501,405 |
|
1985 |
1,027,259 |
574,013 |
|
1986 |
1,079,920 |
617,266 |
|
1987 |
1,106,487 |
614,274 |
|
1988 |
1,123,532 |
682,583 |
|
1989 |
1,181,936 |
743,835 |
|
1990 |
1,763,330 |
826,939 |
|
1991 |
1,967,788 |
886,589 |
|
1992 |
1,968,270 |
873,090 |
|
1993 |
2,093,931 |
913,123 |
|
1994 |
2,120,561 |
1,034,481 |
|
1995 |
2,323,468 |
1,147,731 |
|
1996 |
2,352,071 |
1,216,766 |
|
1997 |
2,847,254 |
1,326,766 |
|
1998 |
2,991,595 |
1,270,729 |
|
1999 |
3,232,984 |
1,729,952 |
|
2000 |
3,303,716 |
1,874,152 |
|
2001 |
3,326,958 |
1,868,887 |
|
2002 |
3,638,290 |
1,991,699 |
|
2003 |
3,738,260 |
2,116,694 |
|
2004 |
3,924,163 |
2,314,293 |
|
2005 |
4,104,448 |
2,470,025 |
|
2006 |
4,447,380 |
2,677,822 |
|
2007 |
4,759,452 |
2,789,057 |
|
2008 |
4,918,635 |
3,098,306 |
|
2009 |
5,358,211 |
3,184,602 |
|
2010 |
5,132,489 |
3,050,698 |
|
2011 |
5,538,555 |
3,231,814 |
|
2012 |
5,581,302 |
3,005,857 |
|
2013 |
5,668,302 |
2,944,186 |
|
2014 |
5,657,660 |
2,932,157 |
|
2015 |
6,123,954 |
3,335,039 |
|
2016 |
5,631,506 |
3,069,921 |
|
2017 |
5,826,998 |
3,388,501 |
|
2018 |
6,662,876 |
3,705,602 |
|
2019 |
6,259,377 |
3,483,423 |
|
2020 |
6,572,906 |
3,675,648 |
|
2021 |
6,564,818 |
3,708,153 |
|
2022 |
6,243,871 |
3,922,279 |
|
2023 |
6,163,897 |
3,934,839 |
|
Source:
FAOSTAT, 2025 |
||
From time to time, the global demand and supply of cashew nuts is
getting higher and higher. It can be seen
from the data from FAO Statistical Corporate Database
(FAOSTAT) from 1970 to 2023. Specifically, in the year 1970, the world’s
harvested areas of cashew nuts were about 920,882 hectares with world’s production of about 511,939 tons. Meanwhile, after more than 50 years,
exactly in the year 2023, the world’s production of cashew nuts reached
3,934,839 tons with harvested areas around 6,163,897 hectares. Overall, in the
last 50 years, the world’s production and harvested areas have increased more
than 7-fold.
The World’s Production of Cashew Nuts Based on Continent in 2023
|
Continent |
Production of Cashew Nuts in 2023 |
|
(Tons) |
|
|
Africa |
2,251,528 |
|
Americas |
193,375 |
|
Asia |
1,489,937 |
|
Source:
FAOSTAT, 2025 |
|
In the continental regions, the production of cashew nuts can be
found in several
regions. Africa and Asia are still becoming the major area of production of cashew nuts. Africa produced 2.5 million tons and Asia
produced 1.4 million tons. Meanwhile, America's
regions just produced around 193 thousand tons in 2023.
According to the country database, there are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew
Nuts. These data were obtained from FAO Statistically Corporate Database
(FAOSTAT) in 2025. Here are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts in
2023.
10 World’s Largest Country Producers of Cashew Nuts in 2023
|
Ranks |
Country |
Production of Cashew Nuts in 2023 |
|
(in Tons) |
||
|
1 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
1,044,450 |
|
2 |
India |
782,000 |
|
3 |
Viet Nam |
347,634 |
|
4 |
Benin |
203,844 |
|
5 |
United Republic of Tanzania |
189,114 |
|
6 |
Indonesia |
164,152 |
|
7 |
Mozambique |
157,496 |
|
8 |
Burkina Faso |
143,965 |
|
9 |
Philippines |
136,264 |
|
10 |
Brazil |
127,931 |
|
Source:
FAOSTAT, 2025 |
||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Largest Country Producers of Cashew Nuts
1.Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire still became the world’s largest producer of Cashew nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical
Corporate Database, the production of cashew nuts from Côte d’Ivoire
reached 1,044,450 tons. Geographically, in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire,
the main growing areas of cashew plants can be found in the northern, north-western,
and north-eastern part of the country.
2. India
India is the second largest producer of cashew
nuts in the world. At the year of 2023, the production of cashew nuts from
India reached 782,000 tons.
Geographically, in India, the main growing areas of cashew plants can be found
in some states including Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal (Yomichan, 2020).
3. Viet Nam
Viet Nam also has huge production of Cashew nuts
in 2023. In the year of 2023, the production of cashew nuts from VietNam reached 347,634 tons. Geographically, in Vietnam, the southeast produces
most of Vietnam's
raw cashew. Specifically, Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai Provinces, together with
Daklak in the Central Highlands still become the main production areas of
cashew (Kilama, 2013).
4. Benin
Benin is the 7th world’s largest
producer of cashew nuts in 2023. According to FAO Statistical Corporate
Database (FAOSTAT), the production of cashew nuts from Benin reached 203,844 tons. In Benin, two areas of cashew
cultivation located in Guinean zone and Sudano-Guinean zones (Bello et al., 2017).
5. United Republic of Tanzania
United Republic of Tanzania could produce of
cashew nuts around 189,114
tons in 2023. Geographically, In Tanzania, cashew is mostly cultivated in the
coastal regions of Mtwara and Lindi in southeastern Tanzania. Specifically,
Mtwara accounts for 70% and Lindi for about 20% of the country’s total cashew
production (Kilama, 2013).
6. Indonesia
Indonesia also has huge production of cashew
nuts in 2023. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the
production of cashew nuts from Indonesia reached 164,152 tons. Geographically, in Indonesia,
there are some main cultivation areas of cashew. These provinces include Nusa
Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), contributing
33,25%, Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi)
(25,34%) and Jawa Timur (East Java) (10,84%).
7. Mozambique
Mozambique is the 7th largest
producer of cashew nuts. According to FAOSTAT in 2023, the production of cashew
nuts from Mozambique reached 157,496 tons. Geographically, in Mozambique, the Northern region still becomes
the main cultivation area of cashew plants.
The province of Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado in the northern region
contributes around 78% of national cashew nuts in Mozambique (Antonio &
Griffith, 2017).
8. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is the 8th largest
producer of cashew nuts according to FAOSTAT. Statistically, the production of
Cashew nuts from Burkina Faso reached 143,965 tons. Geographically, in Burkina Faso, the main
cultivation regions of cashew plant are in the main cashew nut-producing
regions in Burkina Faso are the Cascades, the Centre-West, the Hauts-Bassins,
and the South-West (Dakuyo et al.,
2022).
9. Philippines
Philippines is the 4th biggest
producer of cashew nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate
Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Cashew Nuts from Vietnam reached 136,264 tons. Geographically, in
the Philippines, most cashew nuts production came from Palawan provinces with specific
municipalities or cities in Roxas, El Nido, and Dumara.
10. Brazil
Brazil also has huge production of cashew nuts
in 2023. According to FAOSTAT, the production of cashew nuts from Brazil
reached 127,931 tons.
Geographically, Cashew trees plantation area can be found into several states
in Brazil, namely Ceará, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte.
The Summary of 10 World’s Largest Cashew Nuts Producers in 2023
Bibliography of 10 World’s Largest Producers of
Cashew Nuts
FoodData Central. 2023. Nuts, cashew nuts, raw. Accessed via https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170162/nutrients on November 4th, 2023.
FAOSTAT. 2023. Cashew Nuts. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on November 4th, 2023.
Yomichan, S. (2020). Case study: Opportunities and potential of
cashew trade between India and Guinea Bissau 2018. Acta Scientific Agriculture,
4(3).
ITIS. 2023. Anacardium occidentale L. Accessed via https://www.gbif.org/species/102301531 on November 4th, 2023.
Kilama, B. (2013). The diverging South: comparing the cashew
sectors of Tanzania and Vietnam.
Bello, D. O., Ahoton, L. E., Saidu, A., Akponikpè, I. P. B., Ezin,
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