Scaling Up the Cashew Nut Market Share in the Global Market to Enhance Economic Growth in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of Africa’s leading cashew producers, yet its global export share has stagnated despite rising world demand, prompting this study to investigate the economic and structural factors shaping its market performance. This study set out to examine the key determinants influencing Tanzania’s market share in the global cashew nut export market and to assess its market share performance from 2012 to 2024, using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis. Despite a 65.7% increase in export quantity, Tanzania’s global market share declined marginally from 4.6% to 4.3%, even as the global market grew by 75.9%. This indicates missed opportunities in capitalising on the rising global demand. Econometric findings show that terms of trade, trade openness, export infrastructure quality, and GDP growth (both domestic and of trading partners) significantly and positively influence Tanzania’s market share (p < 0.05). Conversely, an appreciating exchange rate negatively affects competitiveness. The study identifies structural constraints such as limited value addition, weak infrastructure, and reliance on raw exports that continue to hinder competitiveness. To enhance Tanzania’s position in the global cashew market, the study recommends targeted investments in processing, infrastructure, trade facilitation, and macroeconomic stability.