{"id":1956,"date":"2026-10-20T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/?p=1956"},"modified":"2026-10-29T17:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T16:06:32","slug":"cajou-interdiction-export-noix-brute-bilan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/cajou-interdiction-export-noix-brute-bilan\/","title":{"rendered":"Cashew: what the ban on raw nut exports has really changed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ak-encadre\">\n<h3>The question<\/h3>\n<p>Benin made a risky bet: sacrificing immediate export earnings to force cashew nuts to be processed at home. <strong>Is the bet being won, who really benefits, and where can an entrepreneur or investor position themselves in a value chain whose structure is changing?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The rules of the game<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>decree no. 2022-568 of 12 October 2022<\/strong> sets the conditions for banning exports of raw cashew nuts and soya. The ban has been in force since <strong>April 2024<\/strong>. Its aim is explicit: reserve the raw material for processing units based in Benin so that the added value, jobs and revenue stay in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025-2026 marketing season opened on <strong>6 February 2026<\/strong> for seven months, until 30 September. Two rules set it apart from previous ones: the purchase price paid to producers is <strong>set by the market<\/strong>, whereas a floor price was previously fixed (375 FCFA per kilo in 2025), and manufacturers are now <strong>required to buy directly from producers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre\">\n<h3>In figures<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u221296,2 %<\/strong> \u2014 Fall in the value of raw nut exports between 2023 and 2024: from 55 to 2 billion FCFA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>+101,5 %<\/strong> \u2014 Rise in exports of processed kernels, to 26.8 billion FCFA in 2024.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u221257,3 %<\/strong> \u2014 Fall in the value chain\u2019s trade balance, from 68.3 to 29 billion FCFA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>96,3 %<\/strong> \u2014 Share of national kernel exports from the Glo-Djigb\u00e9 industrial zone (GDIZ) in 2024.<\/li>\n<li><strong>50 000 t<\/strong> \u2014 Volume processed in Benin in 2025 according to the consultancy N\u2019kal\u00f4: double 2024, a record (13,000 t at best between 2020 and 2024).<\/li>\n<li><strong>+120,55 %<\/strong> \u2014 Increase in cashew volumes marketed in the first half of 2026 (PACOFIDE report).<\/li>\n<li><strong>171 000 ha<\/strong> \u2014 Ageing plantations rehabilitated between 2021 and 2025, plus 22,800 ha of new plantations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>200 000+<\/strong> \u2014 People employed by the value chain across its various links.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ak-note-fine\">Data as at 23 September 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What the figures really say<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Local processing has taken off<\/h3>\n<p>This is the desired result, and it is there. The volume processed doubled in one year and reached an unprecedented level. Benin has become, behind C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, the second-largest cashew processing hub in West Africa. At regional level, processing grew by 51% in 2025, but it remains concentrated in three countries: C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, which accounts for nearly 82% of regional kernel production, Benin and Ghana.<\/p>\n<h3>2. The value chain earns less foreign currency, for now<\/h3>\n<p>Kernel earnings have doubled, but they do not yet make up for the disappearance of raw nut exports. The value chain\u2019s trade balance therefore fell by more than half between 2023 and 2024. This is the transition cost of any processing policy: you give up selling the raw material before you have the capacity to sell the finished product on the same scale. The decisive question is how long this dip lasts.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Processing means the GDIZ, first and foremost<\/h3>\n<p>More than 96% of kernel exports come out of the Glo-Djigb\u00e9 industrial zone, driven notably by Benin Cashew S.A. At the end of 2025, the zone had eleven industries in operation, 233.7 billion FCFA of cumulative investment and 11,452 jobs created. It is a strength, because it brings large-scale factories, and a weakness, because the value chain depends on a very small number of players.<\/p>\n<h3>4. The raw material is becoming a battle again<\/h3>\n<p>With the end of the floor price and the obligation to buy directly, the relationship between producers and manufacturers is changing. Manufacturers need regular, quality volumes; producers need a fair price. Yet the Beninese price remained below that of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire in 2025 (375 against 425 FCFA per kilo). This gap is a risk factor for factory supply, because it encourages selling nuts across the border.<\/p>\n<h2>Winners, losers and those in between<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ak-tableau-defilant\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Winners, losers and those in between\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Player<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">What changed<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Assessment so far<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-libelle=\"Acteur\">Industrial processors<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Ce qui a chang\u00e9\">Reserved access to raw material, record volumes<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Bilan \u00e0 ce stade\">Winners, especially in the GDIZ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-libelle=\"Acteur\">Raw nut exporters<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Ce qui a chang\u00e9\">Activity banned since April 2024<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Bilan \u00e0 ce stade\">Losers: need to diversify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-libelle=\"Acteur\">Producers<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Ce qui a chang\u00e9\">End of the floor price, direct sales to manufacturers, orchards rehabilitated<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Bilan \u00e0 ce stade\">Uncertain: depends on the market price obtained<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-libelle=\"Acteur\">Artisanal processors and SMEs<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Ce qui a chang\u00e9\">Competition from large factories for nuts<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Bilan \u00e0 ce stade\">Weakened, except in quality niches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-libelle=\"Acteur\">The state<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Ce qui a chang\u00e9\">Less export revenue, more jobs and industry<\/td>\n<td data-libelle=\"Bilan \u00e0 ce stade\">A long-term bet in progress<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What it changes for you: the openings to seize<\/h2>\n<p>A value chain moving from raw exports to processing creates new needs around the factories. Here are the most realistic ways in.<\/p>\n<h3>Way in 1 \u2014 Aggregation and nut quality<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Manufacturers must buy directly from producers. <strong>Organised cooperatives<\/strong>, able to deliver regular, sorted, dried and traceable volumes, are becoming sought-after partners.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Possible services<\/strong> : drying, storage, quality control, collection, season financing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Way in 2 \u2014 Services to factories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Packaging and packing<\/strong> of kernels for export, which requires strict food standards.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Logistics<\/strong> between production areas and Glo-Djigb\u00e9, industrial maintenance, testing laboratories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Way in 3 \u2014 Adding value to by-products<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>cashew shell<\/strong> contains an industrial liquid that can be turned to value, notably to make cardanol; in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, a project worth more than 75 million dollars targets this.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>cashew apple<\/strong>, largely wasted in the field, can become juice, syrup, alcohol or livestock feed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Way in 4 \u2014 Finished products for the regional market<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Roasted and flavoured kernels, butters and snacks for the region, where competition from the big exporters is weaker than on European and Asian markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>An advantage to seize<\/strong> : since 4 September 2026, Beninese administrations must give priority to local products in several food categories of their purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Points of caution<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre ak-encadre--methode\">\n<h3>The risks we refuse to keep quiet about<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Concentration.<\/strong> A value chain where 96% of processed exports come from a single zone depends on the health of a few factories. An industrial or commercial incident has national effects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Producer price.<\/strong> Without a floor price, a balance of power unfavourable to producers may discourage plantation upkeep and, in time, reduce the raw material available.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nut leakage.<\/strong> A higher price in neighbouring countries encourages taking nuts out illegally, depriving Beninese factories of supply.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Export markets.<\/strong> Kernels are sold on demanding and volatile world markets; Ivorian competition, far larger in volume, weighs on prices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fragile data.<\/strong> Production and processing figures come from different sources, sometimes inconsistent. No complete official series is published for 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What you can do on Monday morning<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are a producer or cooperative: organise your volumes, drying and traceability to negotiate directly with manufacturers.<\/li>\n<li>If you are an artisanal processor: identify a quality or finished-product niche that the large factories do not serve.<\/li>\n<li>If you are a service provider: list the needs of the GDIZ factories (packaging, logistics, maintenance, testing) and get in touch.<\/li>\n<li>If you are an investor: look at adding value to the cashew shell and apple, still little exploited in Benin.<\/li>\n<li>Check whether your products fall within the priority categories of public purchasing since the circular of 4 September 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Consulter les donn\u00e9es compl\u00e8tes et les risques dans le rapport <a href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026\/\">Data Benin \u2014 Cashew value chain 2026<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre\">\n<h3>What we checked<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Decree 2022-568, its entry into force in April 2024 and the rules of the 2025-2026 season<\/li>\n<li>2023-2024 exports of nuts and kernels and the GDIZ\u2019s share (APIEx data reported by La Marina)<\/li>\n<li>Orchard rehabilitation and the rise in volumes marketed (PACOFIDE report)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre ak-encadre--methode\">\n<h3>What we could not check<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The exact nature of the 50,000 tonnes in 2025 (nuts processed or kernels produced): the source presents them as kernels, which seems high given production<\/li>\n<li>The average price actually paid to producers during the 2025-2026 free-price season<\/li>\n<li>Volumes of nuts taken out of the country illegally, by nature not measured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre ak-encadre--retenir\">\n<h3>Key takeaways<\/h3>\n<p>The ban on exporting raw nuts has had the desired effect on processing, which doubled in a year, and the feared effect on earnings, which fell while industry ramped up. The bet is neither won nor lost: it now hinges on regular supply to factories and fair pay for producers. For an entrepreneur, the lesson is clear: value no longer lies in exporting nuts, but around the factories, in organising producers, industrial services, by-products and finished products for the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ak-encadre\">\n<h3>Going further<\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026\/\">Data Benin \u2014 Cashew value chain 2026<\/a><\/strong> (Ak\u00e8da toolbox): production series 2017-2025, prices compared with neighbouring countries, measured effect of the decree, nine risks, and the nine missing data points with the method to obtain them. Each figure is dated, sourced and rated for reliability.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet\/\">Bankable business plan<\/a><\/strong> : one of the two complete examples concerns a cashew processing unit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<aside class=\"ak-produits-article\" aria-label=\"Dans la boutique Ak\u00e8da\">\n\t\t<p class=\"ak-produits-article__titre\">Dans la boutique Ak\u00e8da<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"ak-produits-article__grille ak-produits-article__grille--2\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"ak-produit post-1494 produit type-produit status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry categorie_produit-rapport\" data-ak-reveal>\n\t<a class=\"ak-produit__visuel\" href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026-760x475.jpg\" class=\"attachment-akeda-carte size-akeda-carte wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rapport Data B\u00e9nin fili\u00e8re cajou 2026\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026-760x475.jpg 760w, https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026-400x250.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"ak-produit__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ak-etiquette\">Report<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ak-produit__format\">PDF + Word \u00b7 23 pp.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<h3 class=\"ak-produit__titre\"><a href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/data-benin-filiere-cajou-2026\/\">Data Benin \u2014 Cashew value chain 2026<\/a><\/h3>\n\t<p class=\"ak-produit__resume\">Everything public sources establish about Benin\u2019s cashew value chain \u2014 every figure dated, sourced and&hellip;<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"ak-produit__pied\">\n\t\t<span class=\"ak-produit__prix\">\n\t\t\t12 000 F\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"ak-btn ak-btn--vert ak-btn--petit\"\n\t\t\tdata-ak-ajout-panier=\"1494\">\n\t\t\tAdd\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"ak-produit post-1492 produit type-produit status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry categorie_produit-modele\" data-ak-reveal>\n\t<a class=\"ak-produit__visuel\" href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet-760x475.jpg\" class=\"attachment-akeda-carte size-akeda-carte wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mod\u00e8le de business plan bancable Ak\u00e8da\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet-760x475.jpg 760w, https:\/\/akeda.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet-400x250.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ak-produit__flag\">Best seller<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"ak-produit__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ak-etiquette\">Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ak-produit__format\">Word + Excel + PDF \u00b7 14 documents<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<h3 class=\"ak-produit__titre\"><a href=\"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/produit\/business-plan-bancable-modele-complet\/\">Bankable business plan \u2014 complete template<\/a><\/h3>\n\t<p class=\"ak-produit__resume\">The exact structure a bank analyst expects, two fully completed examples and a three-year Excel forecast.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"ak-produit__pied\">\n\t\t<span class=\"ak-produit__prix\">\n\t\t\t4 900 F\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"ak-btn ak-btn--vert ak-btn--petit\"\n\t\t\tdata-ak-ajout-panier=\"1492\">\n\t\t\tAdd\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Agratime, \u201cNoix de cajou : sept mois de commercialisation ouverts au B\u00e9nin\u201d, 9 February 2026 (decree no. 2022-568; interministerial communiqu\u00e9 no. 053)<\/li>\n<li>La Marina BJ, \u201cDu brut au transform\u00e9, comment le B\u00e9nin r\u00e9\u00e9crit l\u2019architecture de ses exportations\u201d, 2 June 2026 (APIEx data)<\/li>\n<li>CADRECO, \u201cTransformation de cajou : le B\u00e9nin multiplie par deux ses volumes en 2025\u201d, 10 February 2026 (N\u2019kal\u00f4 estimates)<\/li>\n<li>24 Heures au B\u00e9nin, \u201cLes volumes de cajou commercialis\u00e9s au B\u00e9nin progressent de 120,55 %\u201d, September 2026 (PACOFIDE report)<\/li>\n<li>Agence Ecofin, \u201cB\u00e9nin : hausse de 12 % attendue de la production de noix de cajou en 2024\/2025\u201d (2025 prices, Benin and C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire)<\/li>\n<li>La Marina BJ, \u201cFili\u00e8re anacarde : ce que p\u00e8se r\u00e9ellement la noix de cajou dans l\u2019\u00e9conomie b\u00e9ninoise\u201d, 4 July 2025<\/li>\n<li>Directorate General for the Economy, \u201cContribution de la fili\u00e8re anacarde \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9conomie b\u00e9ninoise\u201d<\/li>\n<li>CADRECO, \u201cC\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire : plus de 75 millions de dollars pour valoriser les coques de cajou en cardanol\u201d, 2026<\/li>\n<li>Nasuba Infos, \u201cLe Made in Benin s\u2019installe dans la commande publique\u201d, September 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ak-note-fine\">Article written by the Ak\u00e8da newsroom. No part of this article was paid for. Data as at 23 September 2026.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two years after the ban came into force, raw nut exports have collapsed, kernel exports have doubled and local processing is breaking records. But the total value exported by the value chain has fallen, and most processing is concentrated in a single zone. The figures, winners, losers and openings to seize.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92,91],"tags":[],"secteur_activite":[],"class_list":["post-1956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-benin","category-decryptages-data"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1956"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2109,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956\/revisions\/2109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1956"},{"taxonomy":"secteur_activite","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akeda.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/secteur_activite?post=1956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}