<p></p><p>The only factory processing cashew in Ghana still active, Usibras Ghana is threatened, said its CEO Tarciso Falcao to Commerce Minister Ekwow Spio-Garbrah Ghanaweb reported Saturday. The plant only runs at 20% capacity (35 000 tons) because it lacks raw material, most of the nuts being exported raw. <br></p> <p>cajou_usibras_tarciso_falcao.jpgQu'en is it? The Brazilian group Usibras decided in 2013 to invest ($ 35 million) in a nut processing plant began to turn in November. Preferring to settle in Ghana, found in 2013 "politically more stable," the Brazilian group, however well counted on supplies from Ivory Coast, the first African producer, with 700 000 tons (t), while Ghana did harvest around 70 000 t per year. Other nuts also come from Burkina Faso and Mali, whose productions are around respectively 60 000-70 000 t and 30 000 t 000-40 <br></p> <p>For a long time Côte d'Ivoire's policy prohibiting export raw cashew nuts, says Pierre Ricaud Rongead-N'Kalô. A more or less applied over the years, fraudulent exports estimated to about 40 000 to 50 000 t has always been current, according to the specialist. However, during the 2014/15 campaign, the Ivorian authorities, through the Council of cotton and cashew (CCA), have decided to strengthen their controls, sending the military to tackle the mafia trafficking. With results. "Today, it is estimated that illegal traffic fell around 5 000 to 10 000 t," said Pierre Ricaud. <br></p> <p>Hence the difficulty setting of processing industries in Ghana. Usibras dying, that in Techiman Indian Rajkumar Impex is closed as the Dutch Mim Cashew; 12 companies, 11 were already closed last August (see our news). <br></p> <p>Yet in total, the installed industrial capacity is only 65,890 t, according to the Ministry of Commerce. And when you consider that 150 000 tons of raw nuts are exported around the port of Tema, Ghana's nuts but also the hinterland, the country could well supply its factories and continue to export some 100 000 t of raw nuts. <br></p> <p>Recall that Ghana has banned the export of raw nuts in March but is immediately reversed its decision (see our news). Indeed, pressure to repeal the measure had been very strong, especially from exporters because the Tema port would be the cheapest in the region and the margins on substantial exports but also producers who aps want to trouyver the industrial thank you (see our news). "The Ghanaian authorities must play Franco and ban once and for all the raw nut exports to protect their industry," said Pierre Ricau.<br></p><p></p>