DP World has officially launched Senegal’s cashew export season with the arrival of the vessel Diogue, a massive shipment carrying 2,000 tonnes of cashews from neighbouring Guinea-Bissau.
West Africa is rapidly emerging as a major global player in the cashew nut market, and Senegal is thriving as a crucial export gateway for this valuable agricultural product. The cashew export season in Senegal commenced on 5 July.
Last year, approximately 180,000 tonnes of cashew nuts from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau were exported through the DP World Dakar terminal. The company played a key role in connecting local producers and exporters with international markets, significantly contributing to regional development and prosperity. India and Vietnam were the main destinations for these exports.
“The agricultural sector in Senegal and Guinea Bissau represents a significant proportion of economic activity in both countries, which need a stable supply chain that facilitates innovative, flexible and cost-effective solutions,” mentioned Clarence Rodrigues, CEO of DP World Dakar.
As part of its dedication to enhancing the cashew export season, DP World supports cashew traders by coordinating with shipping lines, tracking cargo from departure through to loading onto regular routes, and managing packaging, stuffing, and weighing operations for transport to its final destination.
In recent years, DP World Dakar has partnered with multiple shipping lines at the container terminal to facilitate the efficient and seamless export of cashews from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau to global markets, including key destinations in Asia.
“Through faster administrative processes and new storage solutions – such as loading cargo directly at the terminal – we are saving customers time and money. We enable cashew producers in Senegal and Guinea Bissau to have access to international markets,” added Rodrigues.
Over the past 16 years, DP World has invested more than US$300 million in modernizing the Port of Dakar. This investment has transformed the port from handling 265,000 TEUs annually in 2008 to a cutting-edge terminal that processed 800,000 TEUs in 2023. This upgrade has significantly boosted trade, economic growth, and job creation.
Additionally, DP World is investing US$1 billion in the construction of the Port of Ndayane, located 50 km from Dakar. This project represents the largest single private sector investment in Senegal’s history and aims to further enhance the country’s trade capabilities.
