Coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews market in SADC

Earlier Report Observations

The SADC market for coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews contracted sharply from 1 433 thousand tons in 2018 to 1 014 thousand tons in 2019, primarily due to a surge in exports which rose from 13 thousand tons to 335 thousand tons. This export growth aligned with regional government policies aimed at boosting processing capacity and increasing value addition for cashew nuts, as African governments implemented initiatives to develop local industry. In 2020, market volume declined further to 920 thousand tons, even though global demand for cashews remained strong, highlighting persistent infrastructure constraints that limited local market supply.

From 2021, the market began to recover, reaching 1 060 thousand tons that year and 1 180 thousand tons by 2023. This rebound coincided with reported global growth in cashew nut consumption and production, which bolstered demand for SADC-origin nuts. However, the recovery faced headwinds from drought conditions and increased competition from other producing regions like China, which pressured local production volumes even as market size expanded.

Production coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in SADC

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

Production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in SADC has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, SADC produced 1 302 thousand tons of these nuts, marking a slight decrease of 2.6% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 12.9%, which translates to an average annual decline of 4.5%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews production in SADC also dropped for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 1 454 million US dollars, representing a significant reduction of 20.0% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 41.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -16.2%.

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

Exports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews from SADC

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for these nuts showed considerable volatility during the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 13.4 thousand tons, with a sharp decline of 96.2% that year. In 2019, exports surged by 2,393.9%, reaching a peak of 402.7 thousand tons in 2020, which was a solid increase of 20.1% from the previous year. Overall, exports swung 30-fold between the trough in 2018 and the peak in 2020.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and India dominated SADC's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms, together accounting for 98.2% of total shipments.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Export values exhibited irregular fluctuations, reflecting a volatile market. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 21.7 million US dollars, with a steep decline of 96.3% that year. In 2019, values jumped by 2,000.6%, reaching 449.4 million US dollars in 2020, though this represented a slight decrease of 1.3% from 2019. Overall, export values varied 27-fold between the low in 2018 and the high in 2017.

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

In value terms, SADC's exports of these nuts from 2017 to 2020 were heavily concentrated in Vietnam and India, which together made up 91.1% of total flows, with other destinations playing a minor role.

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

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

Imports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews to SADC

Imports in kind, K t

Import volumes displayed an unstable trend over the timeframe. The lowest volume was recorded in 2017, while imports peaked in 2020 at 20.4 thousand tons, showing a steep increase of 73.3% compared to 2019. In 2019, imports saw a decline of 6.4%. Overall, imports varied 1.9 times between the low in 2017 and the high in 2020.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia were consistently the main sources for SADC's imports of these nuts in volume terms, with shares of 24.9%, 22.3%, and 13.4%, respectively, totaling 60.6% of all imports.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Import values of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in SADC declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 29.7 million US dollars, indicating a gradual decrease of 6.6% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values fell by 25.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.4%.

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

In value terms, SADC's import structure from 2017 to 2020 was highly diversified. Vietnam, Indonesia, and India were the top sources, with shares of 29.6%, 9.4%, and 8.0%, respectively, but together they accounted for only 47.0% of total imports. The remaining 53.0% came from a wide range of smaller markets.

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

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