10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts- According FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts in 2021. These countries have huge production of cashew Nuts.Functionally, many people fond of cashew nuts and it can be added into making the snack, ingredient of many dishes, cashew milk, and other dairy alternatives, thickener in soups, stews, and sauces, and as topping of a variety of dishes, such as ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, and pancakes. Besides, the cashew nuts still could be used in the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals products.
Nutritionally, according to FoodData Central (FDC) of USDA, cashew nuts contains some nutritional substance which is 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: Spermatophytina, 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
| Years | World’s Harvested Areas of Cashew Nuts | World’s Production of Cashew Nuts |
|---|---|---|
| (Hectares) | (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 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
From time to time, the global demand and supply of cashew nuts is going higher and higher. It can be seen the data from FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) from 1970 to 2021. Specifically, in the year 1970, the world’s harvested areas of cashew nuts were about 920,882 hectares with world’s production was about 511,939 tons. Meanwhile, after more than 50 years, exactly in the year of 2021, the world’s production of cashew nuts reached 3,708,153 tons with harvested areas around 6,564,818 hectares. Overall, in the last 50 years, the world’s production and harvested areas has increased more than 7 folds.
The Production of Cashew Nuts Based on Continent in 2021
| Continent | Production of Cashew Nuts in 2021 |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| Africa | 1,967,199 |
| Americas | 124,122 |
| Asia | 1,616,832 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
In the continental regions, the production of cashew nuts can be found into several regions. Africa and Asia still became the major area production of cashew nuts. Africa produced 1.9 million tons and Asia produced 1.6 million tons. Meanwhile, Americas regions just produced around 124 thousand tons in 2021.
According to country database, there are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts. These data were obtained from FAO Statistically Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2023. Here are 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts in 2021
10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts in 2021
| Ranks | Country | Production of Cashew Nuts in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | Côte d’Ivoire | 837,850 |
| 2 | India | 738,000 |
| 3 | Viet Nam | 399,308 |
| 4 | Philippines | 255,931 |
| 5 | United Republic of Tanzania | 210,786 |
| 6 | Indonesia | 170,462 |
| 7 | Benin | 150,414 |
| 8 | Burkina Faso | 137,722 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 135,161 |
| 10 | Guinea-Bissau | 122,283 |
| Source :FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts
1.Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire still became the world’s largest producers of Cashew nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database, the production of cashew nuts from Côte d’Ivoire reached 837,850 tons. Geographically, in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the main growing areas of cashew plants can be found in 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 2021, the production of cashew nuts from India reached 738,000 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 2021. In the year of 2021, the production of cashew nuts from Viet Nam reached 399,308 tons. Geographically, in Vietnam, The southeast produces most of the 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. 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 Viet Nam reached 255,931 tons. Geographically, in Philippines, most of cashew nuts production came from Palawan provinces with specific municipalities or cities in Roxas, El Nido, and Dumara.
5. United Republic of Tanzania
United Republic of Tanzania could produce of cashew nuts around 210,786 tons in 2021. 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 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of cashew nuts from Indonesia reached 170,462 tons. Geographically, in Indonesia, there are some main cultivation areas of cashew. These provinces include Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), contributing of 33,25%, Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi) (25,34%) and Jawa Timur (East Java) (10,84%).
7. Benin
Benin is the 7th world’s largest producer of cashew nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of cashew nuts from Benin reached 150,414 tons. In Benin, two areas of cashew cultivation located in Guinean zone and Sudano-Guinean zones (Bello et al., 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 137,722 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. Mozambique
Mozambique is the 9th largest producer of cashew nuts. According to FAOSTAT in 2023, the production of cashew nuts from Mozambique reached 135,161 tons. Geographically, in Mozambique, Northen region still becomes the main cultivation areas 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).
10. Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau also has huge production of cashew nuts in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the production of cashew nuts from Guinea-Bissau reached 122,283 tons. In this country, cashew become one of the most cultivated plants. Statistically, about a third of the country’s agricultural land is occupied by cashew trees (Seca et al., 2021)
The Summary of 10 World’s Largest Cashew Nuts Producers
Bibliography of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Cashew Nuts
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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).
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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, V. A., Balogoun, I., & Aho, N. (2017). Climate change and cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) productivity in Benin (West Africa): perceptions and endogenous measures of adaptation. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 11(3), 924-946.
Dakuyo, R., Konaté, K., Sanou, A., Kaboré, K., Sama, H., Bazié, D., … & Dicko, M. H. (2022). Comparison of Proximate and Phytonutrient Compositions of Cashew Nuts and Apples from Different Geographical Areas of Burkina Faso. BioMed Research International, 2022.
Antonio, L., & Griffith, G. (2017). The cashew value chain in Mozambique: analysis of performance and suggestions for improvement. International Journal on Food System Dynamics, 8(3), 208-221.
Seca, A. I., Pereira, H. dos S., & Silva, S. C. P. da. (2021). Expansion of Cashew Cultivation and its Environmental and Economic Impacts on Guinea-Bissau. Brazilian Journal of Environmental Sciences (RBCIAMB), 56(3), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.5327/Z21769478950