Burkina Faso moves beyond raw cashew exports with local processing push
Burkina Faso no longer wants to be a mere supplier of raw materials. Cashew nuts one of the main exports of the country alongside cotton, shea, and sesame are entering a new era: local processing. Under President Ibrahim Traoré and his government, investments are multiplying to create added value on national territory.
The latest proof came on June 6 with the commissioning of a cashew processing unit by the Swiss group Gebana Faso in Péni, Guiriko region. Built on a 7.2‑hectare agro‑industrial complex, the new plant can process 10,000 tonnes of nuts per year.
It draws supply from a network of 7,200 local producers a win‑win partnership that embeds processing in the rural economy.
This follows a major inauguration in December 2025: Burkina Cajou in Bobo‑Dioulasso, the largest processing unit of the country.
With an investment of 9.74 billion CFA francs ($17.4 million) and a capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year, that plant marked a decisive turning point.
The Interprofessional Cashew Committee of Burkina Faso (CIAB) aims to reach 50% local processing by 2033.
Today the figure hovers around 10%. Between 2021 and 2025, only 15,400 tonnes were processed annually on average, while the annual harvest reached about 140,000 tonnes between 2018 and 2022. The road is long, but momentum has begun.
A major challenge remains: raw material availability. Traditionally, producers favour raw exports, seen as more profitable given international prices. Aware of this obstacle, the government took strong action.
In March 2025, it suspended raw nut exports to prioritise local units. The ban was lifted on May 20 after factories were properly supplied, but authorities reserve the right to reinstate it if needed a delicate balance between protecting farmer incomes and supporting industrialisation.
The strategy is already bearing fruit. In 2024, despite a low processing rate, the sector generated 67.5 billion CFA francs in export revenue, according to the national statistics institute (INSD).
With the new plants, this potential will only grow. Burkina Faso is patiently building its economic sovereignty, one processed cashew at a time.
