Raw Cashew trade
Raw Cashew Trade: Exporters, Importers, and Trade Volume
The global raw cashew trade is a significant component of the agricultural commodity market, with annual production exceeding 5 million metric tons. West African countries, particularly Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana, are among the largest exporters of raw cashew nuts (RCN). These countries supply a substantial share of the world's raw cashew requirements. Major cashew importer and supplier in india Ankan agro such as
The leading importers of raw cashew nuts are Vietnam and India, which possess extensive processing industries. Vietnam imports over 2 million metric tons of raw cashews annually, while India remains a major importer despite its domestic production. Processed cashew kernels are subsequently exported to key consumer markets such as United States, Germany, and Netherlands.
Trade volumes and prices are influenced by crop yields, weather conditions, freight costs, exchange rates, and global demand for healthy snack products.
Cashew Industry size
The global raw cashew industry is a multi-billion-dollar market. In recent years:
- Global raw cashew nut (RCN) production has been around 5–6 million metric tons annually.
- Average farm-gate and export prices for raw cashew nuts generally range between US$1,000 and US$1,500 per metric ton, depending on quality and market conditions.
- Based on these volumes and prices, the global raw cashew trade value is estimated at approximately US$5–8 billion per year.
- After processing into kernels, the value chain expands significantly. The global cashew kernel market is estimated to exceed US$10–12 billion annually, with retail sales generating even higher economic value.
Major exporters of raw cashew nuts include Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Benin. The largest importers and processors are Vietnam and India, which together handle the majority of global raw cashew processing.
Processed cashew exporters
The global processed cashew kernel trade is dominated by a few major exporting countries:
- Vietnam – The world's largest exporter of processed cashew kernels, accounting for roughly 60–70% of global exports. Vietnam imports raw cashews from Africa, processes them, and exports kernels worldwide.
- India – A traditional leader in cashew processing and kernel exports, supplying premium grades to international markets.
- Brazil – One of the oldest cashew-producing and processing countries, exporting kernels mainly to North America and Europe.
- Côte d'Ivoire – Increasing domestic processing capacity and exporting a growing volume of processed kernels rather than raw nuts.
- Benin, Tanzania, and Mozambique – Emerging processors seeking to capture more value locally.
The main importers of processed cashew kernels are United States, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, China, and Japan.
The global processed cashew kernel export market is estimated at US$8–10 billion annually, making it substantially larger in value than the raw cashew trade because processing adds significant value through shelling, grading, roasting, and packaging.
Employment in Cashew industry
Global Employment in the Cashew Sector
- The global cashew value chain is estimated to support 10–15 million livelihoods worldwide.
- More than 5 million smallholder farmers cultivate cashew trees, primarily in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, India, Vietnam, and Tanzania.
- Processing plants employ hundreds of thousands of workers, with women representing a large share of the workforce in shelling, peeling, grading, and packaging operations.