President Daniel Chapo argued that the industrialization of the cashew value chain is a crucial prerequisite for Mozambique to achieve economic independence and strengthen its national productive capacity.
Speaking during the launch ceremony for the book titled “The Cashew Economy in Mozambique: The Context of Bretton Woods Policies and the Assumptions of Reindustrialization Engineering,” the president explained that true development only occurs when national resources are converted into industry, employment, innovation, and better living conditions for the population.
“It is not enough to produce; we must transform. It is not enough to export resources; we must add value. Mozambique was once the world’s largest producer of cashew nuts and is currently among the top seven,” stated the head of state, as quoted by the Agência de Informação de Moçambique.
Chapo emphasized that universities and researchers must deepen their study of the national economy in order to generate knowledge geared toward the country’s development, arguing that the cashew value chain should also represent a concrete opportunity for the inclusion and empowerment of women.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries indicate that cashew nut exports generated approximately $121.6 million in 2025, reflecting a significant recovery in the sector and consolidating its role as one of the country’s main sources of agricultural revenue.
Revenue from cashew exports reached $121.6 million, representing significant growth compared to the $44.1 million recorded in 2024, effectively tripling revenue within a year. This performance was driven primarily by an increase in export volume, which rose from 48,403 tons to 93,247 tons, with Vietnam and India remaining the main destinations.
The government plans to invest $374 million in developing the cashew value chain by 2034, with the goal of increasing annual production from the current 158,000 tons to 689,000 tons. The nationwide program aims to strengthen areas such as research, promotion, technical assistance, marketing, and processing, as well as to expand the number of supported producers from 230,000 to over 600,000.
In 2023, Parliament passed the Cashew Law, with the aim of establishing principles that stimulate, promote, and ensure an appropriate environment for the cashew agribusiness, with a fair balance throughout its value chain, in cashew promotion policy, and in the promotion of research.
According to the explanatory memorandum, this proposal aims to foster competition among stakeholders and ensure the security and stability necessary for investments in the cashew subsector, with the goal of establishing, among other objectives, procedures for the marketing, processing, and export of raw cashew nuts and cashew kernels, as well as the applicable premium rates.
