CASHEW FARMING

v. 11, n. 425, march, 2026

Abstract

Côte d’Ivoire is currently the world’s largest producer of cashew nuts, while Vietnam is the leading processor. Brazil, although the center of origin of the cashew tree, holds a small share of global production and trade and has been losing competitiveness relative to the main global producers. Brazilian production is concentrated בעיקר in the states of Ceará, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte, and the sector has not yet fully recovered from the effects of the most recent major drought. Areas that were lost are being gradually replanted with early dwarf cashew varieties, which tends to improve productivity; however, structural and cyclical constraints continue to limit the expansion of the activity. Among these, the predominance of the common cashew tree—characterized by low productivity—the strong dependence on income derived from raw cashew nuts, and the limited processing capacity among smallholders stand out. A large share of Brazil’s cashew nut production is exported, with the United States being one of the main markets; however, following the increase in tariffs in the U.S. market in 2025, export diversification became necessary.