Coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews market in Vietnam

Earlier Report Observations

The Vietnamese market for coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews expanded from 1 725 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 4 258 thousand tonnes in 2023. This growth was primarily driven by private investment in new, large-scale processing plants which increased domestic capacity and stimulated raw nut imports. State-backed promotion through the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) secured new international buyers in markets like the EU, while consistent household demand for snacks and gifts sustained domestic consumption.

Market volume surged in 2019 when several modern processing plants with advanced de-shelling technology commenced operations, pulling imports to over 1 300 thousand tonnes. The slight contraction in 2020 was stabilized by government measures, including a short-term export-tax waiver for raw cashews and state agency stockpiling, which countered COVID-19 related logistics bottlenecks. A sharp rise in imports to 2 575 thousand tonnes in 2021 occurred as processors anticipated potential import duties on African cashews, a proposal debated by the Ministry of Agriculture. The market dip in 2022 coincided with increased competition from African exporters, though a new government-approved halal certification pilot scheme opened access to Muslim-majority markets.

By 2023, strong demand from the EU and the United States pushed export value toward US$5 billion, and stricter hygiene standards for raw cashew handling forced quality upgrades. In 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture enacted mandatory traceability and labeling rules for EU exports, while two foreign joint-venture processors from Brazil and Kenya set up new assembly lines, indicating continued foreign investment and a focus on high-value product segments.

Production coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in Vietnam

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam maintained the sixth position globally in terms of production volume for coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews.

Top producers of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

World map of production of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

Vietnam's production of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 2 069 K t of these nuts, marking a moderate increase of 5.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 20.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Vietnam in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews from Vietnam

Exports in kind, K t

Vietnam's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country exported 573 K t of these nuts, showing a significant rise of 27.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 39.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 294 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 28.2%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 52.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Vietnam in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, China, and the Netherlands were the key destinations for Vietnam's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms. The United States accounted for 29.3% of exports, China for 17.1%, and the Netherlands for 11.5%, together representing 57.9% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Vietnam in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Vietnam's export value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 3 002 M $ US, reflecting a slight decrease of 2.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 13.8%, with a compound annual decline rate of 4.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Vietnam in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, the United States, China, and the Netherlands remained the top buyers of Vietnam's coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in value terms. The United States held 32.9% of export value, China 14.6%, and the Netherlands 13.2%, collectively accounting for 60.8% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Vietnam in value, 2017-2020

Imports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews to Vietnam

Imports in kind, K t

Vietnam's import volumes of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews showed notable fluctuations from 2017 to 2020. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 181 K t, with the largest decline of 86.1% that year. They then surged to a peak of 1 327 K t in 2019, marking the largest increase of 634.2%. In 2020, imports totaled 1 283 K t, representing a measured decline of 3.3% compared to 2019, with a 7.3-fold difference between the minimum in 2018 and maximum in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Vietnam in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Cambodia were the leading sources for Vietnam's imports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms. Côte d'Ivoire contributed 36.2% of imports, Ghana 13.8%, and Cambodia 12.5%, together making up 62.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Vietnam in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Vietnam's import value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews from abroad declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports reached 1 591 M $ US, down by 11.3% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value decreased by 38.3%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Vietnam in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Côte d'Ivoire, Cambodia, and Ghana were the main sources for Vietnam's imports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in value terms. Côte d'Ivoire accounted for 35.3% of import value, Cambodia for 13.2%, and Ghana for 12.6%, collectively absorbing 61.1% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Vietnam in value, 2017-2020