Global demand for cashews continues to rise, creating new opportunities for producers to expand and diversify. Yet, many West African producers miss out on valuable revenue streams - particularly from cashew shells, a by -product that can be converted into biomass energy. These shells are often discarded due to logistical challenges, hazardous handling of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), and the absence of scalable conversion facilities. The result: limited diversification and reduced profitability.

As your integrated logistics partner, Maersk provides resilient supply chains that connect African cashew producers to global markets. With direct port calls in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Vung Tau, plus added connectivity to Binh Duong, we enable competitive transit times and speed-to-market advantages:

• FW3 - Tema-Lekki-Abidjan-Pointe Noire-Colombo-Vung Tau
• MW2 - Tema-Lome-Cotonou-Abidjan-Colombo
• FW2 - Lome-Apapa-Onne-Cotonou-Singapore-Tanjung Pelepas

Tap into Maersk's worldwide network of 500+ ports across 130+ countries, supported by air freight services on 70,000 trade lanes in 90+ markets.

Challenges Facing the Cashew Industry

Despite strong demand, producers face persistent obstacles:

• Inadequate feeder roads slow and increase the cost of transport to ports.
• Port congestion in West Africa causes delays, impacting delivery commitments.
• Limited warehouse capacity and poor post-harvest handling lead to quality deterioration (moisture damage, pest infestation).
• Exporters encounter bottlenecks in securing phytosanitary certificates, fumigation reports, and origin documentation - delaying shipments and raising costs.
• Many processors struggle with standardisation, traceability, and compliance with international norms (HACCP, ISO), while buyers in Europe and North America demand consistent quality and food safety.

The Maersk Advantage

Partnering with Maersk gives you access to:

• New value chains such as CNSL and shell biomass, and new markets including Denmark and India.
• Experienced cargo management teams to guide you through every stage of the shipping process.
• Transparency and visibility across your supply chain.
• Optimised shipping solutions with unrivalled cargo care and management services. 

Our Ocean and Inland services work seamlessly to deliver reliability through the East-West Network and multimodal inland transport options (rail and barge). Benefits include:

• Guaranteed loading - even during peak season.
• Reduced detention and demurrage costs on empty containers.
• Simplified booking for ocean and inland journeys.
• Strategically located depots for flexibility in uncertain conditions.
• Industry-leading container preparation protocols to safeguard cargo quality.
• A single customs service provider for efficiency and visibility.
• Dedicated compliance teams monitoring regulatory changes.

Digital solutions like Spot and Go provide a streamlined platform for booking, combining ocean freight, inland transport, and customs clearance. Track your cargo across ports, warehouses, and handovers, manage tasks, access instant rates, and complete documentation - all in one place, 24/7.

Maximising the Potential of Cashew Harvest

Cashew kernels remain in high demand worldwide, valued for their protein and healthy fats. They are used in snacks, pastries, chocolate, plant-based foods, and more, with strong markets in the USA, EU, Middle East, India, and China.

• Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN): Produced mainly in West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso) and used in Asia (India, Vietnam).
• Cashew Kernels: Sold globally to roasters, snack manufacturers, chocolate and ice cream companies, retail brands, and bulk traders.
• Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL): A natural oil found inside shells, making up 24% of RCN. Major processors include Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
• Cashew Shells: Often discarded, but they represent 70% of RCN and can be converted into biomass fuel. Once CNSL is removed, shells burn efficiently, offering renewable, low-cost, low-carbon energy. Denmark and other European countries are primary buyers, presenting a significant opportunity for West African producers to expand revenue streams.

Get your cashews to new markets reliably, efficiently and on-time.
Book now