Free of charge

Cashews: disappointing trade balance

February 2, 2026 at 10:31 AM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

HANOI. Vietnam’s cashew nut exports exceeded USD 5 billion in 2025. Yet the trade balance is far less impressive. Vietnam holds a 70% market share in the EU.

Small trade surplus in Vietnam

Impressive as Vietnam’s record-breaking cashew exports were in 2025, industry stakeholders highlight that raw nut imports have resulted in a far less impressive trade surplus as Viêt Nam News reports. While the country’s cashew exports exceeded USD 5.2 billion for the first time on record in 2025 with China replacing the USA as main destination, the country also spent USD 4.5 billion on raw cashew imports mainly from Africa and Cambodia, which only leaves a trade surplus of just above USD 700 million.

Trouble is that domestic supply only covers around 10% of production demand. Intention is to engage in a twofold solution to this problem with VINACAS, the Vietnam Cashew Association, keen to maintain exports above USD 5 billion. To this end, efforts will be increased to boost raw nut production and to drive up high-value processing rather than continue to mainly ship semi-processed nuts.

Vietnam remains main EU trading partner

China accounted for USD 1.1 billion of Vietnam’s cashew nut exports last year, followed by the USA with USD 975 million and the Netherlands with USD 495 million. In fact, the EU imported a record 194,361 mt of cashew nuts worth EUR 1.2 billion (USD 1.4 billion) in 2025 as official European Commission import statistics show. Vietnam accounted for more than 70%, followed by the Ivory Coast with a much smaller market share of around 16% and India with nearly 6%. Quotations for WW320 cashew nuts currently range at USD 6,900/mt FOB Vietnam.

Cashew nuts, Vietnam

Type

USD/mt

WW240

7,530

WW320

6,900

WW450

6,850

W320

6,360

SP

3,330

LP

5,350

FOB Vietnam

 

View more
price charts for edible nuts
price charts for dried fruit, oilseeds, spices and more

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Nuts
Jun 16, 2026
MANILA. Although domestic prices are falling, Philippine suppliers have not yet reduced their export prices for desiccated coconuts. Factors such as the damage caused by the severe earthquake and high logistics costs are also weighing on the market. Particular attention is being paid to weather developments.
Nuts
Jun 16, 2026
FRESNO. US shipments hit a record for pistachios in May as the Administrative Committee for Pistachio’s Industry Inventory Shipment Report outlines. Exports are the main driver of growth this year. Prospects are, however, far less encouraging in 2026/2027.
Nuts
Jun 15, 2026
NEW DELHI. In Vietnam, there is a disjoint between raw cashew nut and cashew kernel prices. Supplies are limited in Benin. Quality is a worry in Burkina Faso. India’s trade with the EU is far from balanced.
Nuts
Jun 15, 2026
NEW DELHI. There are many indications that peanut prices in India will fall in the coming weeks. These include high government stocks, expectations of a significantly larger crop, and weak international vegetable oil markets.