(Ecofin Agency) - According to agricultural news platform N’Kalô, West Africa’s cashew output will increase by 108,000 tons in 2016. Harvest should produce 1.590 million tons against 1.482 million tons last year.

The main driver of this rise will be Cote d’Ivoire whose production will grow by 50,000 tons to 750,000 tons. In Mali (45,000 tons), Guinea Bissau (225,000 tons) and Nigeria (160,000 tons), output will soar by 10,000 tons while in Togo (15,000 tons), Senegal (45,000 tons) Guinea (50,000 tons), Ghana (85,000 tons) and Burkina Faso (80,000 tons), 5,000 tons will add to their previous output. Benin is the only country of the region to stagnate at 125,000 tons.

In terms of exports, Vietnam should beat India as leading importer of West African cashew, N’Kalô indicated.

Aaron Akinocho