CASHEW

Nigeria is one of the largest cashew producers in Africa, with annual production of over 250,000 metric tons as of 2025 and growing. Most of the cashew is exported as Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) with opportunities for value addition and organized export aggregation. Butakament & Mout (Butakament) sources raw cashew nuts (RCN) from local farmers in Nigeria, aggregates and exports to processors worldwide. India and Vietnam are major buyers while Europe and America also demand high-quality kernels.  

Butakament  partners with cashew farmers and cooperatives in the key growing areas of Kogi, Kwara and  Osun states of Nigeria as critical supply areas feeding  our quality control and aggregation hub in Ilorin. The  major producing states include Kogi, Kwara, Oyo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue, Niger and Taraba. Export season each year is from February to June. At out Hub, we perform quality control to ensure Nuts are export-ready and meet the necessary specifications relating to health, regulation, market,  documentation. Some of these include, but are not limited to phytosanitary,  moisture content, nut count, kennel out-turn ratio etc. before, customs inspection etc before we forward forward for export using certified freight forwarders. 

Global Market Overview

Global demand for cashew nuts is growing at 4–5% annually demonstrated by the increased demand for both raw and processed cashew kernels. Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest producer of cashew after Côte d'Ivoire. 

Sourcing Strategy

• Partner with cashew farmers’ cooperatives and middlemen. 
• Offer fair  market prices to incentivize local production. 
• Provide training and inputs (e.g., drying nets, sacks) to ensure quality. 

Processing & Storage 

• Aggregation points with tarpaulin drying and moisture testing. 
• Storage warehouses with aerated bags and pallets to avoid mold and 
• contamination. Quality Control (Rancidity Test)
• Moisture testing (5–10% ideal). 
• Nut count and out-turn ratio (for RCN export, 22-24 kg (48–52 lbs) out-turn preferred/ KOR –Kernel Output Ratio). A higher KOR means higher yield. 
• Float Test (used to determine immature or defective nuts)
• Aflatoxin checks for EU markets. 

Options

• White Wholes (WW): Intact whole kernels with white appearance. Graded as WW180, WW210, WW240, WW320, WW450, etc. the number denotes how many kernels fit in 1lb ( eg., WW320 = 320 kernels/lb). 
• Scorched whole (SW): kernels slightly brown due to heat during processing. 
• Desert Kernels: lower-grade broken kernels used in confectionery. 
•  Broken Grades: includes Butts (B), Splits (S), and Small Pieces (SP)

- Inter]national Standards and Terms 

• AFI Grades: based on the Association of Food Industries standards for cashew kernel quality.
•  TBC (To Be Cleared): refers to ungraded or uncleaned RCN or kernels. 

Note: these terms is crucial for pricing, negotiation and meeting buyers specification if you are to export cashew and engaging in a quality oriented cashew business. 

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