By Fridah Mbuvi, June 17, 2026
China’s decision to grant unified market access to cashew nuts from all African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing is expected to reshape the continent’s agricultural export landscape, with producers and processors poised to benefit from simplified trade procedures.
The policy, which came into effect on June 9, 2026, was introduced by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) to eliminate the lengthy country-by-country quarantine negotiations that previously delayed market access for African exporters.
Analysts say the new framework could particularly benefit major cashew-producing countries in West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, by allowing them to access the Chinese market without undergoing separate bilateral clearance procedures.
East African countries such as Tanzania and Kenya are also expected to gain from faster and more predictable access to China’s vast consumer market, creating fresh opportunities for farmers and exporters seeking to diversify their destinations.
The new arrangement is also seen as a boost for countries investing in value addition and local processing facilities, as exporters will now be able to ship processed, high-value cashew kernels directly to China.
Despite the streamlined access, exporters will still be required to comply with strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards established by Chinese customs authorities.
Processing facilities intending to export to China must first be registered and approved by the General Administration of Customs. Shipments must also be accompanied by official phytosanitary certificates confirming that the products are free from harmful storage pests.
Exporters have additionally been advised to maintain proper storage conditions and adhere to prescribed moisture levels to prevent aflatoxin contamination, which remains one of the major food safety concerns in international agricultural trade.
China introduced the unified framework after concluding that pest and disease risks associated with cashew production are largely similar across African countries, making separate protocols unnecessary.
The policy is part of a broader effort by Beijing to strengthen agricultural trade ties with Africa and diversify its sources of food imports while meeting growing domestic demand.
Industry stakeholders say the move could stimulate investment in processing, increase export earnings and further integrate African agricultural products into global value chains.
