Sourcing Spotlight: Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire — a strategic origin for Hotanuts

Why Korhogo matters

  • Geography: Savanna plateau in northern CIV, short dry climate — ideal for cashew
  • Harvest window: February to June each year (dry season)
  • Korhogo kernels: medium-to-large size, uniform shell color, low breakage in processing
  • Processing capacity: CIV lifted domestic processing from 330,000 tons/year in 2021 to 413,000 tons in 2022 and 442,000 tons projected in 2023 — yet most output still ships as raw

Standard grades from CIV

Raw cashew from CIV is typically graded on two parameters:

  • Out-turn: usually 49–52 lbs per 80 kg bag — higher = more kernel per bag
  • Count: nuts per kg (usually 180–200) — lower count = larger nuts

Example:

  • CIV 49 lbs / 190 count — mid grade
  • CIV 52 lbs / 180 count — premium grade

Why Hotanuts sources from Korhogo

  1. Earlier harvest than Vietnam — gives Hotanuts continuous supply during Vietnam's off-season
  2. In-Vietnam QC expertise — our Quality Manager Trần Thị Hằng verifies each lot at HCM port before processing
  3. Source diversification — we blend Korhogo with Vietnam (Bình Phước) and Cambodia for cost-quality balance
  4. Bi-directional trade — we import raw from CIV and export kernels to international buyers

Hotanuts traceability process

For every Korhogo lot arriving in Vietnam:

  1. Certificate of Origin from Abidjan port
  2. Inspection report at destination port (HCM/Hai Phong) by Hotanuts QC representative
  3. Lot tracking code — format: HX-CIV-{year}-{quarter}-{lot#}
  4. Processing log — factory and shift recorded
  5. Post-processing QC report: moisture, count, defect %, Salmonella test

Buyers can query any lot code and receive full documentation within 24 hours.

Benefits for international buyers

  • Single-origin option: specify "100% Korhogo" if your marketing narrative calls for it
  • Compliance-ready: CIV origin is accepted by EU/US standards (non-sanctioned country)
  • Story asset: the Korhogo story commands premium placement in retail catalogs — African origin + Vietnamese QC

What Hotanuts does NOT yet offer (transparency)

We do not yet carry Fair Trade or Organic certification on our CIV supply (programme in development). Buyers requiring Fair Trade certified origin must specify — we will work through ACA-member cooperatives to source.

Next steps

Want to evaluate Korhogo raw cashew for your 2026-2027 plan?

  • [Request a 500g Korhogo 49 lbs sample] — sample fee + freight apply
  • [Request a traceability example] — view a demo lot code document
  • [Book a call with Tâm Lê (CEO)] — discuss your spec + MOQ

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