Coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews market in Eastern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2021, production of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in Eastern Africa declined from 1.56 million tons to 1.39 million tons. This downturn was partly due to structural challenges in key producer countries; in Tanzania, a significant portion of cashew nuts were exported raw because of limited domestic processing capacity. However, from 2022 production began to recover, reaching 1.58 million tons by 2023. This rebound was supported by agricultural initiatives such as the introduction of new drought-tolerant and disease-resistant cashew nut varieties in Kenya, which matured in just 1.5 years compared to the traditional five, encouraging faster replanting and higher yields.

The size of the domestic market, measured as apparent consumption, contracted sharply from 1.55 million tons in 2018 to a low of 1.04 million tons in 2020, influenced by a substantial increase in raw nut exports from the region. Subsequent market recovery was fostered by continued efforts to expand and modernize the sector. These included government programs to distribute free seedlings and establish nurseries in non-traditional growing areas, as well as parliamentary review of a dedicated bill in 2023 aimed at regulating the entire value chain to revive coastal production. In Tanzania, the launch of a new commodities exchange for cashew nuts in 2024 brought higher prices for farmers, incentivizing production for both export and local markets.

Production coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

World map of production of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

Eastern Africa's production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 437 thousand tons of these nuts, showing a slight year-over-year decrease of 2.3%. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 11%, with an average annual decline of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Eastern Africa's production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 1 608 million US dollars, marking a significant drop of 19.9% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 40%, with an average annual decline of 15.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited considerable volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 13.6 thousand tons and peaked in 2020 at 402.0 thousand tons, representing a 30-fold increase between these two years. In 2020, Eastern Africa exported 402.0 thousand tons of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews, indicating a 20.4% year-over-year advance. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 96.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019, soaring by 2 354.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of exports in kind was highly concentrated, with Vietnam and India together accounting for 98.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Exports hit their minimum in 2018 at 20.9 million US dollars and reached their maximum in 2017, with a 28-fold variation between these years. In 2020, the value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews exported from Eastern Africa amounted to 449.6 million US dollars, representing a 1.2% drop compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 96.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, rising by 2 080.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and India together accounted for 91.1% of total exports in value terms, with other countries forming a diversified but less significant portion.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Eastern Africa imported 1.9 thousand tons of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews, which is 12.3% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 14.8%, with an average annual decline of 5.2%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, India, Indonesia, and South Africa were the primary suppliers of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews to Eastern Africa, accounting for 44.0%, 14.6%, and 11.2% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, they made up 69.8% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Eastern Africa imported approximately 4.4 million US dollars worth of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in 2020, up by 18.9% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 6.3%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 2.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 3.7 million US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 14.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, India, South Africa, and Indonesia formed the main cluster of markets for imports in value terms, accounting for 31.9%, 16.5%, and 15.6% of imports, respectively. Together, they represented 64.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020