Shelled cashew nuts market in Kenya

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for shelled cashew nuts in Kenya contracted significantly from 2 880 t in 2018 to 1 489 t in 2021. This decline was initially driven by the collapse of the Kenya Cashew Nuts Company, which disrupted farming and employment, and was later exacerbated in 2021 by the spread of cashew powdery mildew, a major fungal disease that reduced tree yields.

From 2022, the market stabilized around 1 550 t annually. Revival efforts accelerated in 2023 with the entry of new processors like Nuts and More EPZ Kenya and the large-scale distribution of over 1.1 million high-yield, drought-resistant cashew seedlings across coastal counties. The government also advanced the proposed Coconut and Cashew Nut Bill to establish a regulatory board and began construction of a new EU-funded processing factory.

In 2024, the government's comprehensive revival plan focused on distributing 2 million improved seedlings, training farmers, and rehabilitating processing facilities to address the structural overcapacity where installed processing potential of 45 000 t far outstripped domestic production.

Production shelled cashew nuts in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya ranked 13th globally in the production of shelled cashew nuts.

Top producers of shelled cashew nuts, 2017-2020

World map of production of shelled cashew nuts, 2017-2020

Shelled cashew nut production in Kenya fell for the third year in a row. In 2020, Kenya produced 2 716 tonnes of shelled cashew nuts, marking a slight decrease of 0.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production dropped by 33.4%, with an average annual decline of 12.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Kenya's shelled cashew nut production value also declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 14 926 thousand US dollars, representing a 24.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production value fell by 51.1%, which translates to an average annual reduction of 21.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports shelled cashew nuts from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 at 96.8 tonnes, then peaked in 2017, with a 5.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 273.7 tonnes of shelled cashew nuts, showing a sharp increase of 75.1% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 82.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, Canada, and Germany were the primary markets for Kenya's shelled cashew nut exports in volume terms. The United States accounted for 43.7% of exports, Canada for 13.3%, and Germany for 9.5%, together making up 66.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export values hit a low in 2018 at 809 thousand US dollars, then peaked in 2017, with a fivefold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya's shelled cashew nut exports amounted to 1 504 thousand US dollars, representing a significant increase of 33.5% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 80.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 39.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom were the main markets for Kenya's shelled cashew nut exports in value terms. The United States accounted for 42.1% of exports, Canada for 15.2%, and the United Kingdom for 11.4%, collectively representing 68.6% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports shelled cashew nuts to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Import volumes were at their lowest in 2017, then reached a high in 2020, with a 5.2-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Kenya imported 50.7 tonnes of shelled cashew nuts, indicating a sharp gain of 250.4% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 38.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya's imports of shelled cashew nuts in volume terms were highly concentrated, with Tanzania and Mozambique together accounting for 98.9% of total flows, while other partners made up the remainder.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Import values were lowest in 2019 at 95 thousand US dollars, then highest in 2018 at 212 thousand US dollars, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 2.2 times. In 2020, Kenya imported 197 thousand US dollars worth of shelled cashew nuts, showing an increase of 107.2% from the year before. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 55.0%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Tanzania consistently represented 71.1% of Kenya's total shelled cashew nut imports in value terms, highlighting a high concentration on this market, with the rest distributed among other countries.

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

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