How to Export Cashew Nuts From Nigeria and Ghana (2026 Guide)

Cashew is one of West Africa's biggest crops, and most of it leaves the region unprocessed. If you want to export cashew nuts from Nigeria or Ghana, the first decision is what you will sell: raw cashew nuts in the shell, or shelled kernels. The two have different buyers, different quality tests and, in Ghana, different permit rules. This guide covers who regulates the trade, what the standards say, which documents you need and how to prepare for EU buyers. Everything below comes from official or agency pages read in October 2026, and rules change, so confirm each step with the authority named.

Raw cashew nuts vs processed cashew kernels

NEPC's Nigeria cashew profile (dated November 2021, last modified March 2022) says raw cashew nut production is about 220,000 to 240,000 tonnes, with roughly 85 percent exported in shell. Of that, it says Vietnam takes 81 percent and India 19 percent. The same profile says Nigeria's processing capacity is 25,000 to 35,000 tonnes a year but only about a third is used, and that 22 states produce cashew. These are 2021 figures, so treat them as a picture of the structure of the trade, not of this year's volumes.

CBI, the Dutch import promotion agency, notes that Vietnam dominates kernel processing and imports in-shell nuts from Africa to feed its factories. If you have the capital for a shelling and grading plant, kernels give you access to European buyers directly. If you are a farmer group or aggregator, raw nuts are usually the realistic product. In Ghana the pattern is similar: a Food Business Africa report on a TCDA warning says about 90 percent of Ghana's annual output of 180,000 tonnes is exported unprocessed (the article is undated, so check current figures).

Cashew nut grades and quality for raw nuts

For raw nuts, buyers care about nut count (how many nuts per kilogram or pound) and out-turn (how much usable kernel the nut yields). NEPC's profile names two Nigerian raw nut quality classes: Ogbomosho (47 to 49 lbs, 190 nut count) and Nigerian (42 to 46 lbs, 195 to 205 nut count). It also cites an average out-turn of 48. Buyers set their own contract specifications, so agree the test method and sampling point before shipment, and keep nuts dry in clean sacks off the floor, because moisture and mould are what turn a good lot into a disputed one.

Cashew kernel grades and EU standards

CBI's cashew buyer requirements (updated 23 March 2026) refer to the UNECE standard for cashew kernels, updated in 2023. It sets a maximum moisture content of 5 percent, defines three classes (extra white, class I scorched, class II scorched seconds), and grades whole nuts from 150 to 500 by maximum kernels per pound. Common bulk packaging is 10 to 25 kg polybags, often vacuum sealed with nitrogen and carbon dioxide, or airtight 10 kg tins packed two to a carton. Keep storage humidity below 65 percent, and label the product as cashew nut kernels with origin and storage instructions.

EU food safety rules for cashew

According to CBI, under Regulation (EU) 2023/915 aflatoxin B1 in tree nuts must not exceed 5 micrograms per kilogram, and total aflatoxins must not exceed 10. Cadmium is capped at 0.20 mg/kg, pesticide maximum residue levels apply, and cashew must be labelled as an allergen. CBI also says almost all European importers require a food safety certificate from a GFSI-recognised scheme such as IFS, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or SQF, and that major buyers audit factories. Organic cashew needs an electronic certificate of inspection for each batch imported into the EU. Read the full list on the CBI cashew market entry page.

NEPC launched an organic cashew certification programme in April 2023 with NICERT, Valency and PRO-Cashew, aimed at helping Nigeria move from conventional to organic production. The announcement gives no certification criteria, so contact NEPC for current eligibility.

How to export cashew nuts from Ghana: TCDA permit

Ghana's Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) directs that exporters of unprocessed rubber, cashew or shea must first obtain a valid written permit, under Regulation 50 of the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471), in force from 2 May 2025. The directive also says exporters must pay development levies and show TCDA the receipt before the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate issues a phytosanitary certificate. The page does not state the permit fee, levy rates or timelines, so ask TCDA directly. Non-compliance can bring sanctions under the TCDA Act. Read the TCDA directive and confirm the latest position before you move any stock.

How to export cashew nuts from Nigeria: documents and steps

In Nigeria you first register as an exporter on NEPC's e-registration platform and receive an exporter certificate. NEPC's export documents page then lists the paperwork a typical agro shipment needs: an export contract, a phytosanitary certificate from the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service for agricultural commodities, proforma and commercial invoices, a packing list, the Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) form issued by your bank, a clean certificate of inspection from a government-appointed pre-shipment agent, a certificate of origin, and a bill of lading or air waybill. A certificate of weight and quality from an independent assessor such as SGS or Bureau Veritas can also be agreed with the buyer. NAQS asks you to submit an inspection request well in advance, and says a consignment without a phytosanitary certificate may be rejected or destroyed on arrival at the exporter's cost.

We could not confirm from an official page whether Nigeria currently restricts raw cashew exports, so check the Customs export prohibition list and NEPC before you plan. For the wider process, see our complete guide to exporting from Nigeria. CBI notes that Burkina Faso suspended raw nut exports in April 2025 to support local processing, a reminder that raw export policy in this region can change quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to export raw cashew from Ghana? Yes, according to TCDA's directive, exporters of unprocessed cashew need a valid written permit, effective 2 May 2025, plus proof of development levy payment before a phytosanitary certificate is issued.

What is the best grade of cashew kernel? The UNECE standard grades whole kernels by count per pound from 150 to 500, and the class (extra white, scorched) reflects colour. Which grade sells depends on your buyer, so agree the specification in the contract.

What aflatoxin limit applies to cashew in the EU? CBI states 5 micrograms per kilogram for aflatoxin B1 and 10 for total aflatoxins in tree nuts under Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Test at an accredited laboratory before shipping.

Where does most Nigerian raw cashew go? NEPC's 2021 profile says Vietnam took 81 percent of exported raw nuts and India 19 percent. Check recent trade data before relying on that split.

Getting started

List your raw cashew or kernels for free on the Comilmart food and agro marketplace, even before verification, then consider the optional verified supplier checks to build buyer trust. Browse the supplier directory to see how other exporters present themselves, or create a free account. Overseas buyers can send an RFQ at request a quotation. Comilmart does not promise buyers, volumes or prices, so use our guide on vetting overseas partners and the farmers' export guide when you negotiate.