After a short delay caused by post-election disruptions, Tanzania’s cashew season has finally kicked off — and early results suggest both confidence and competitiveness in the market.
The Cashew Board of Tanzania (CBT) has set an ambitious target of 700,000 tons for the 2025/26 season, a major step up from the 528,000 tons harvested last year.
In the southern growing regions of Mtwara, Ruvuma, and Lindi, the first auctions have now taken place under the supervision of the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX). The atmosphere, according to traders, was one of cautious optimism: buyers are active, prices are solid, and logistical bottlenecks from last week’s unrest appear to have eased.
A confident start after a tense week
The season’s opening auction — managed by TANECU in the Mtwara region — had been delayed by several days due to post-election unrest and temporary internet disruptions.
But once the CBT gave the green light, activity resumed quickly. More than 45 registered buyers are expected to participate across southern Tanzania in the coming weeks, competing for raw cashews that remain in strong demand among Indian and Vietnamese processors.
The MAMCU union followed with its first sale on November 12, moving more than 35,000 tons of nuts and achieving a top price of TSh 2,510/kg, according to CBT figures. For context, this is roughly in line with TMX’s own posted data for that same day.
Prices steady between TSh 2,200 and 2,600/kg
Fresh trade data from TMX shows farm-gate prices settling mostly in the TSh 2,200–2,600/kg range, depending on location and grade.
In Mtwara, RCN-SG1 lots traded at TSh 2,340/kg, while RCN-SG2 settled closer to TSh 2,210/kg. Neighboring Ruvuma reported slightly higher highs — TSh 2,440/kg — while Lindi saw the strongest results so far, reaching TSh 2,610/kg for top-grade raw nuts.
These figures represent the prices farmers receive directly through the cooperative auction system. They don’t yet include onward costs such as transport, handling, storage, insurance, or export logistics, all of which are added before the crop is shipped abroad.
Delivered prices align with firm CFR market
According to our own Rotterdam Commodity Trading sources, recent export offers from Tanzania to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) are trading around US $1,730 per ton (CFR).
This aligns closely with independent trade data showing a general CFR range of US $1,600–1,700/t for East African origins in November.
The gap between TMX auction prices and the delivered CFR values reflects normal cost additions along the chain — from inland transport and warehousing to freight and finance — but overall confirms that Tanzanian RCN is trading at solid, export-competitive levels at the start of the season.
Why this matters for the market
The early signs point to a season that’s off to a stable and constructive start. Weather in the main producing regions — Mtwara, Lindi, and Ruvuma — has remained close to seasonal averages, and logistical routes through Mtwara Port are operating normally.
With supply moving steadily and prices holding firm, Tanzania seems well positioned to achieve its production goal. The combination of an improved harvest outlook and consistent early pricing provides reassurance to exporters and buyers alike — a welcome signal after last week’s political turbulence.
If these dynamics continue, the country could see its strongest and most orderly cashew campaign in several years.
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