Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Cashew nut Board of Tanzania (CBT) on Friday launched the 2025/2026 cashew sales auctions, with the nation expecting to harvest 700,000 tonnes of cashew nuts.
The projection is higher than last year’s target of 500,000 tonnes, which was surpassed after a total of 528,000 tonnes were harvested.
CBT Chief Executive Officer, Mr Francis Alfred said that more than 45 companies have already registered to purchase cashews in the auctions that will be conducted across various producing areas, particularly in the Southern regions.
In Mtwara Region, the first official launch auction took place in Mchichira Village in Tandahimba District and was conducted by the Tandahimba and Newala Cooperative Union (TANECU).
TANECU General Manager, Mohamed Mwinguku, said they were expecting to collect 120,000 tonnes of cashews this season.
Meanwhile, the Mtwara, Masasi and Nanyumbu Cooperative Union (MAMCU) is expected to begin its first auction on November 10, 2025, in the Nanyamba District Council.
MAMCU General Manager, Biadia Matipa, said the union expects to collect 130,000 tonnes from its farmers this season.
Last week, CBT released a statement informing the public of postponement of the cashew nut sales auction, which was scheduled to take place from October 31, this year. The board postponed the exercise due to internet challenges.
Earlier, CBT Director General Mr Francis Alfred said that cashew production for the 2025/2026 season is projected to reach 700,000 tonnes, an increase from 595,000 tonnes recorded in the 2024/2025 season.
He attributed the rise in production to significant government investment, particularly in the provision of agricultural inputs and technical support for farmers.
To ensure traceability and proper regulation, licensed local processors will be required to use sacks bearing their factory logos when purchasing raw cashew nuts at the primary market level.
He further directed Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Unions (AMCOs) and Agricultural and Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) to enforce proper management and compliance with all market entry guidelines.
On his part, the CBT Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Brigadier General Aloyce Mwanjile said the auctions would be conducted through online bidding facilitated by the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX).
“Preparations for the auctions are well-coordinated and include training sessions for farmers to ensure they deliver high-quality nuts,” he said.
Tanzania is a major global cashew producer, consistently ranking among the top 10 worldwide and a leading producer in Africa.
Globally, the cashew nut trade currently stands at 777,115 tonnes, valued at 4.6 billion US dollars, up from 2.7 billion US dollars just five years ago.
The leading cashew producing regions in the country are Mtwara, Lindi, Pwani (Coastal Region), Ruvuma, Tanga and Dar es Salaam, in descending order of contribution. However, production declined in 2019, dropping to 232,681 tonnes, which accounted for about 10 per cent of global output at the time.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) ranks Tanzania eighth in the world and fourth in Africa, behind Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
The CBT has ambitious plans to raise production to 700,000 tonnes, a goal considered achievable given the country’s favorable climate and the growing interest among local farmers in cashew cultivation. Cashew nuts are the country’s leading export cash crop, generating 221.1 million US dollars in 2019.
Thanks to their high quality, Tanzanian cashews fetch premium prices in international markets. For the past decade, India has been Tanzania’s primary export destination, accounting for an average of 66 per cent of exports.
However, in 2019, for the first time in many years, Vietnam overtook India as the top importer, purchasing cashews worth 197 million US dollars or 89 per cent of Tanzania’s exports.
Tanzania’s harvest season runs from October to January, giving it a competitive edge since most West African producers harvest from February onwards. Exports typically begin in November, peak in January and then decline in subsequent months.
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