Coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews market in Western Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market for coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in Western Africa showed volatile movements in volume from 2018 to 2023. Starting at 824 thousand tons in 2018, domestic market size grew to 1 185 thousand tons by 2020, representing a substantial expansion over two years. This growth was followed by a sharp contraction to 891 thousand tons in 2021. The market recovered strongly in 2022, reaching 1 168 thousand tons, before declining again to 925 thousand tons in 2023.

In value terms, the market mirrored this pattern, rising from $1.14 billion in 2018 to a peak of $1.43 billion in 2020. It then fell to $968 million in 2021, rebounded to $1.34 billion in 2022, and dropped to $912 million in 2023. Underlying these shifts, production increased steadily from 2.61 million tons to 3.36 million tons, while exports grew significantly from 1.78 million tons to 2.44 million tons over the same period, consistently absorbing a large share of output.

Production coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in Western 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

In 2019, Western Africa's production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews hit its lowest point at 2 483 K t, marking a 4.7% decline. However, by 2020, output rebounded to 2 651 K t, reflecting a 6.8% year-over-year improvement. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of decline, Western Africa's production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews saw a recovery in value terms. In 2019, the value dropped to its minimum of 2 773 M $ US, a sharp 22.9% fall. The following year, in 2020, output surged to 3 171 M $ US, a strong 14.4% increase from 2019. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 18.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.5%.

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

Exports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews from Western Africa

Exports in kind, K t

In 2019, Western Africa's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms experienced their largest decline of 20.3%. The peak was in 2018 at 1 784 K t, which saw a significant 31.6% increase. By 2020, exports reached 1 471 K t, up 3.4% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export volume rose by 8.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and India dominated Western Africa's exports in volume, together accounting for 83.2% of the total. Other countries contributed to a more diverse but smaller share of the export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2019, Western Africa's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in value terms fell to their lowest at 1 588 M $ US, a substantial 35.4% drop. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 461 M $ US, with a 16.4% increase. By 2020, exports recovered to 1 760 M $ US, showing a robust 10.8% year-over-year uptick. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, export value decreased by 16.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -5.9%.

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

During 2017-2020, Vietnam and India were the key markets for Western Africa's exports in value terms, jointly capturing 86.8% of total flows. The remaining exports were spread across various other destinations.

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

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

Imports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews to Western Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Western Africa's imports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms have been rising for three consecutive years. In 2020, imports reached 5 K t, a sharp 157.6% increase compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 351.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 65.3%.

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

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The import market in value terms showed volatility over the period. In 2017, imports were at their minimum, while 2020 saw the peak, with a 9.4-fold difference between these years. In 2019, imports recorded their largest decline of 2.2%. By 2020, imports surged to 21 M $ US, up by 769.8% from 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, imports in value terms were spread across a wide range of partner countries. Portugal, the United Kingdom, and India together accounted for just 6.9% of total flows, with shares of 3.7%, 1.9%, and 1.4%, respectively.

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

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