Shelled cashew nuts market in Asia

Earlier Report Observations

After reaching 911 thousand tonnes in 2018, the Asian market for shelled cashew nuts contracted to 624 thousand tonnes in 2019. This drop coincided with a significant increase in exports from the region, particularly from Indonesia, where export value rose by USD 13.3 million in the first half of 2019. Government initiatives in major producing countries like India, under schemes such as MIDH and RKVY, aimed to expand cultivation and adopt high-yield varieties, though their full impact on production was yet to materialize. The market stabilized around 620 thousand tonnes in 2020, as COVID-19 pandemic-related transport delays and supply chain disruptions affected movement from farms to processors.

A sustained recovery began in 2021, with market volume climbing to 827 thousand tonnes. This turnaround was fueled by growing health awareness and strong gifting demand during festivals like Diwali, which boosted consumption. The introduction of minimum support prices for cashew farmers in some Indian states also helped sustain production. Growth continued, reaching 1 026 thousand tonnes in 2022 and 1 105 thousand tonnes in 2023. During this period, the Directorate of Cashew nut & Cocoa Development actively promoted cultivation expansion, while the overall dry fruits market benefited from rising disposable incomes and a shift toward convenient, nutritious snacks.

Production shelled cashew nuts in Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of shelled cashew nuts, 2017-2020

World map of production of shelled cashew nuts, 2017-2020

Asia's production of shelled cashew nuts has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 952 thousand tonnes, which is 0.9% lower than in 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 7.3%, averaging an annual increase of 2.4%. The highest output was recorded in 2018 at 1,154 thousand tonnes, marking a significant jump of 30.1% from the previous year. However, this was followed by the largest decline in 2019, when production fell by 16.8%.

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

Exports shelled cashew nuts from Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Asia's exports of shelled cashew nuts have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region shipped 458.0 thousand tonnes, showing a strong increase of 11.8% compared to 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 65.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 18.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Asia's exports of shelled cashew nuts were quite diversified. The top three destinations—the United States (32.4% of export volume), the Netherlands (12.5%), and Germany (3.7%)—together accounted for just 48.6% of total shipments, with no single country dominating the market.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Asia's export value of shelled cashew nuts has decreased for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 3,030 million US dollars, down 3.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, the export value fell by 16.5%, averaging an annual decline of 5.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Asia's export value of shelled cashew nuts was spread across a wide range of markets. The United States (33.0% of export value), the Netherlands (13.0%), and Germany (3.8%) combined for only 49.8% of total flows, indicating a broad distribution without a clear market leader.

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

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

Imports shelled cashew nuts to Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Asia's import volume of shelled cashew nuts showed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. Imports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 41.6 thousand tonnes, which was a 42.7% drop from the previous year. They then rebounded sharply, with the largest increase of 74.9% in 2019, and peaked in 2020 at 126.3 thousand tonnes, up 73.4% year-on-year. Overall, imports varied by a factor of three between the minimum in 2018 and the maximum in 2020.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Asia's imports of shelled cashew nuts came from a diverse set of suppliers. The top three—Côte d'Ivoire (6.9% of import volume), Mozambique (2.5%), and Nigeria (2.0%)—together made up only 11.5% of total imports, while the remaining 88.5% was sourced from numerous smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

After increasing for two years, Asia's import value of shelled cashew nuts declined in 2020. Imports that year amounted to 934 million US dollars, a decrease of 5.5% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import value rose by 11.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.7%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 989 million US dollars, following the largest increase of 11.1% in 2018.

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

During 2017–2020, key suppliers of shelled cashew nuts to Asia included Côte d'Ivoire (6.6% of import value), Mozambique (1.8%), and Nigeria (1.7%). However, their combined share reached just 10.2% of total import value, with the remaining 89.8% spread across many other trading partners.

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

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