Nigerian agribusiness firm Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited has announced plans to construct a 70,000-metric tonne cocoa processing factory and an 80,000-metric tonne cashew processing plant as part of efforts to expand agro-industrialisation and value addition in Africa.
The two facilities, currently under construction in Sagamu in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria, are expected to become operational by March 2027.
Mr. Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, Managing Director of Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited, disclosed the investment during the Africa Cocoa Finance and Investment Forum (ACFIF) at the London Stock Exchange in a statement issued in Accra.
He said the projects formed part of the company’s long-term strategy to strengthen agricultural value chains across the continent and enable Africa to retain greater economic value from its raw commodities.
According to Mr. Owoyemi, the new processing plants represent Sunbeth’s commitment to industrial-scale production, sustainable supply chains, and employment creation within the agricultural sector.
He explained that the cocoa processing facility would enhance Nigeria’s role in the global cocoa processing market, while the cashew plant would target growing demand in West Africa and key export destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Mr. Owoyemi said Sunbeth had transformed from a commodity trading company into an integrated processing enterprise focused on long-term sustainability and operational efficiency.
“Scaling in this industry demands far more than capacity expansion. A 70,000-metric tonne cocoa processing plant is only as viable as the supply chain that sustains it,” he stated.
He stressed that vertical integration remained critical to the company’s future growth strategy.
“The processing journey calls for significantly greater commitment from us. We must participate in backward integration by cultivating the crops required to feed our plants,” he added.
Mr. Owoyemi said the company would invest in farmer training, financing systems, logistics, and technology to improve yields and support reliable supply chains.
He noted that the projects formed part of Sunbeth’s broader Orange Cocoa Sustainability Framework, which focuses on farmer education, quality improvement, and strategic partnerships within the cocoa industry.
According to him, building sustainable processing capacity in Africa depends on the availability of reliable, high-quality domestic raw materials.
Sunbeth currently operates in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon, three of West Africa’s major cocoa-producing countries.
The company has also established offices in London, Dubai, and New York as part of efforts to strengthen access to international markets, global talent, and trade finance opportunities.
Mr. Owoyemi said the company’s long-term ambition was for Africa not only to produce a large share of the world’s cocoa and cashew but also to process, trade, and retain the full economic value of those commodities within the continent.
He said Sunbeth’s investments in processing infrastructure, research, supply chain integration, and market expansion were intended to help build a stronger and more competitive African agro-processing industry.
