YAMOUSSOUKRO, Côte d’Ivoire — Dubai-based Dorado FZCO is seeking US$15 million in financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the construction of a new cashew processing plant in Yamoussoukro, as Côte d’Ivoire continues efforts to expand domestic processing and capture more value from its cashew industry.
The proposed project will be operated by Dorado’s Ivorian subsidiary, Bluejay Nuts, with a total estimated investment cost of approximately US$18 million. As of September 17, the proposed IFC financing was still awaiting approval.
The planned facility will have the capacity to process 50,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts (RCN) annually. Construction has already begun on a 5.43-hectare site, with commissioning targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
Plant to Include Large Warehouse and Solar Power
The new facility is expected to include a 30,000-tonne raw cashew nut warehouse, a wastewater treatment system and a 2.5-megawatt rooftop solar installation.
The project also seeks to increase the value captured from cashew processing beyond the edible kernel.
Cashew shells generated during processing are expected to be supplied to Dorado’s cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) facility in Toumodi. This integration would allow the company to use another major by-product of cashew processing and further develop the industrial value chain within Côte d’Ivoire.
The investment comes as Côte d’Ivoire continues to expand domestic cashew processing. The country produced more than 1.5 million tonnes of RCN in 2025, while domestic processing exceeded 660,000 tonnes, according to the figures cited in the project information.
Dorado Previously Considered Cambodia
The new investment in Côte d’Ivoire also contrasts with Dorado’s earlier plans involving Cambodia.
In late 2023, Dorado reportedly conducted a feasibility assessment for a 50,000-tonne-per-year cashew processing plant in Cambodia. At the time, the company was considering Cambodia as a potential location for a major processing investment.
The project was subsequently advised to wait for the official launch of Cambodia’s Cashew Industrial Park (CIP), particularly in relation to the investment incentives.
Reference: In Côte d’Ivoire
