The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a typical plant in tropical America. Its national production is concentrated in the semi-arid region of the Northeast (99.5%), mainly in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Piauí; constituting an important source of income and jobs during the dry season, from October to March.
Cashew farming is versatile, it can produce different products, such as cashew nuts, almonds obtained from the extraction of the shell; the stalk, which we normally treat as a fruit; and the cashew nut liquid, obtained after an industrial process.
Main derivative product and its export
The main product derived from the auger exported by Brazil is shelled cashew nuts - corresponding to a total of 11,424 tons in 2017, according to the report by Banco do Nordeste -, whose notable buyer is the United States: in 2019, they received 37% of Brazilian cashew nuts.
Growth of 5.25% of shelled cashew nut exports between 2014 and 2018
In a period of four years, between 2014 and 2018, the internationalization of the Brazilian ACC grew by 5.25% in the value criterion, ranging from 110.3 million dollars to 116 million dollars, according to data from the Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (CONAB). However, Brazilian participation in the world almond market is still low, constituting only 2% of production, according to 2017 data.
90% of the world production of cashew peduncle is Brazilian
Also according to the report by Banco do Nordeste, Brazil accounted for around 90% of the world production of cashew stalks in 2017, equivalent to 1,542 thousand tons. In addition, there is also the liquid extracted from the chestnut, whose interest in the United States grew around 67% between the years 2018 and 2019, according to the Ceará International Business Center (CIN-Ce).
Projected global annual growth of 5.7% by 2024
It is possible to observe the possibility of investment in cashew cultivation, as this sector has a global annual growth projection of 5.7% until 2024, according to data from the report of Banco do Nordeste, since its products are used in several sectors, in addition to being present in natural and vegetarian diets, a worldwide trend. Another point to be evaluated is the sustainability of this product, which does not need agricultural controls or preservatives for its full activity - a positive point in the current “green” wave observed in the international market.
Importance of an international consultancy
Given the facts presented, an international consultancy would be beneficial in the search for the maximum use of this typically Brazilian product, versatile, sustainable and widely desired by the world market.
By Lorenza Diniz on 10/15/2020
Sources: