Tanzania and Mozambique Began Cashew Season
The two nations, which produce nearly all of East Africa's cashews, started the 2026/27 marketing season with diverging outlooks.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Organic Food
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Tanzania and Mozambique have officially commenced the 2026/27 cashew marketing season amid contrasting production forecasts. Tanzania is projecting a record harvest, while Mozambique expects a decline in output.
Why it matters
As the source of 98 percent of East Africa's supply, market shifts in these two countries significantly impact global cashew availability. Divergent government strategies, including subsidies in Tanzania and increased export levies in Mozambique, highlight distinct approaches to managing this critical cash crop.
Tanzania anticipates 750,000 tonnes of production, representing a 21.3 percent increase, while Mozambique has set a farmgate price of 48 meticais per kilogram. Mozambique also raised its raw nut export levy to 22 percent to curb illegal trade.
The players
Tanzania
This East African nation is a major global producer of cashews and is investing in subsidies and infrastructure to increase its annual harvest.
Mozambique
This nation is a central player in the regional cashew market and is implementing stricter export levies to promote domestic processing.
The details
Tanzania has bolstered its output by distributing 51,000 tonnes of sulphur and six million litres of liquid pesticides to farmers. Meanwhile, Mozambique has intensified its regulatory measures, including criminal prosecution for illegal exports that saw 35,000 tonnes of nuts smuggled over three years.
Timeline
April 27, 2026: A program launched to distribute free agricultural inputs.
June 30, 2026: Producers reported shortages of subsidised sulphur.
September 2, 2026: Infrastructure project details were published.
October 7, 2026: Mozambique announced the new farmgate cashew price.
October 12, 2026: Tanzania started national cashew auctions.
Culture Shift
This season underscores the impact of government intervention on the East African cashew supply chain concentration, which provides 98 percent of the regional market. National policies now dictate the stability of this supply, marking a shift toward greater state control over agricultural trade.
Consumers and buyers may notice price adjustments resulting from Mozambique's higher export levies and Tanzania's increased production volume. These national policy shifts directly influence the global availability and retail cost of raw cashew nuts.
The takeaway
The diverging strategies in Tanzania and Mozambique demonstrate how national regulatory environments dictate the success of regional export markets. Stakeholders should monitor these farmgate price and levy changes to anticipate shifts in raw material pricing for the coming year.
Further reading
Learn more about agricultural trends at Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecofin Agency.
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