Mozambique is a member admitted to the CICC on April 26, 2025 in Conakry during the 7th Council of Ministers held from April 24 to 26, 2025. It will sign the Constitutive Convention of the institution as soon as possible by the competent Authorities of the country.
Economic, social and environmental profile
Mozambique is an LDC, whose growth curve of per capita wealth was suddenly interrupted in 2015 by the debt crisis and the acceleration of episodes of natural disasters. After increasing linearly and steadily between 1995 and 2015 at an average rate of +4.5% per year, GDP/capita marked a plateau between 500 and 550 USD/capita until 2022, to experience a notable increase in 2023 when it reached 647 USD/capita, economic growth finally managing to absorb the high birth rate (+2.9% per year on average; 33.9 million inhabitants in 2023 according to the United Nations). The Covid-19 health crisis had relatively mild economic effects in Mozambique, with the recession being moderate in 2020 (-1.3%), as was the recovery in 2021 (+2.2%), a year which also suffered from a major security crisis (terrorism in the north of the country), leading in particular to the shutdown of Total Energies’ major gas project due to force majeure. These degraded economic conditions continued in 2022, with growth not exceeding 4.2%, a level barely sufficient to absorb population growth.
Cashew sector in brief
The cashew sector in Mozambique is strategic for the country’s economy, particularly in rural areas where it offers income-generating and local development opportunities. Mozambique has significant cashew plantations, mainly in the provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Zambézia. Cashew represents a major export crop and a growing sector, contributing to the country’s economic diversification. The sector employs a large portion of the rural population, often on a small scale or through cooperatives. Mozambican cashew production has grown in recent years, with significant volumes exported primarily in the form of raw nuts. The sector is working to improve quality to access higher-value markets, particularly in Europe and Asia. Local processing remains limited, with a strong emphasis on the export of raw nuts. However, initiatives to develop the local processing sector exist. The country’s challenges include inadequate infrastructure for collection, storage, and processing, a lack of modern processing and agricultural management technologies, global price fluctuations, dependence on raw nut exports, and the need to strengthen the technical and organizational capacities of smallholder farmers. Opportunities lie in investing in processing to increase value addition, collaborating with international companies to access new markets, and institutional support through capacity-building programs, financing, and favorable policies. In terms of prospects, the cashew sector in Mozambique has significant growth potential, particularly if investments are made in local processing, improving infrastructure, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices.
Organization of the sector
The cashew sector in Mozambique is therefore based on a complex ecosystem involving small producers, cooperatives, private processing and export companies, as well as public actors and international partners. Synergy between these actors is essential for the sustainable development and growth of the sector. The majority of cashew plantations are cultivated by smallholders, often in a family or community setting. Agricultural cooperatives are made up of groups of small producers who come together to better negotiate, share resources and access services, such as local cooperatives in the provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, etc. Private companies and processing plants purchase nuts to shell, process or export them, such as national companies and foreign subsidiaries active in the sector. Public actors and government institutions mainly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which develops policies, support programs, financing and training for stakeholders. Research and development institutions work to improve agricultural techniques, sustainability and quality. International funding and aid agencies develop capacity building programs and agricultural project financing (FAO, World Bank, bilateral agencies, NGOs and development agencies).
Cashew Promotion Incentives
Currently being compiled
Cashew promotion projects and programs
Currently being updated
Institutions and individuals representing the CICC
Mozambique is represented at the CICC by:
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
- The Ministry in charge of Trade/Industry
Geographical location of cashew production
Currently being updated