The Boundiali cashew processing plant has mobilized a total investment of 25 million US dollars (15 billion FCFA). Its construction is in line with the Ivorian authorities’ vision of processing 50% of cashew production locally by 2025. Inaugurated on July 12, 2024, the cashew processing plant will begin trial production in August 2024, according to the investor, Emirati AbdulJabbar Group CEO.
Occupying an area of 10 hectares, the new facility has a daily production capacity of 50 tonnes. It will process the annual production of the Bagoué region, estimated at over 100 tonnes, as well as that of the northern part of the country.
“The cashew industry is booming, thanks to government reforms and the efforts of industry professionals. This infrastructure will strengthen the industry’s value chain, says engineer Konaté Sonfolo Luc, quoted by our colleagues at connectionivoirienne.net.
“We’re proud of the fact that this plant will be located in an area with large cashew plantations. Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, the plant will guarantee a quality product and promote a highly productive agricultural sector, says Marie Léa Yobouët, economic operator. The new production unit will contribute to the development of the Bagoué region, helping to reduce unemployment by creating 2,000 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect jobs for young people and women.
“This agro-industrial infrastructure will help improve farmers’ incomes and have a positive impact on people’s lives, notes Alimata Koné, from Boundiali, to our colleagues at connectionivoirienne.net.
3rd largest processor in the world
There are over thirty processing units in the country, with a nominal capacity of almost 350,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts. This makes Ivory-Coast the world’s 3rd largest processor, 1st largest processor in Africa, 1st largest producer and 1st largest exporter. Until now, Ivory-Coast has exported a large part of its cashew production: India and Vietnam are its two main customers. Last year, these two countries bought almost 900,000 tonnes of nuts. Despite this trend, players are now focusing on local processing. Ivory-Coast produces 1.2 tons of raw walnuts. At present, 22% are processed locally. The country accounts for almost half of the West African supply, estimated at around 2.2 million tonnes. Cashew nuts represent the 3rd largest foreign exchange earner in the agricultural sector, after cocoa and natural rubber.
