Global Raw Cashew Nut Industry: Country-Wise Production, RCN Quality, Processing Facilities & Trade Comparison

Introduction

The global raw cashew nut (RCN) industry is booming, with rising health consciousness, snacking trends, and value-added cashew products driving international demand. Understanding which countries lead in RCN production, how they compare in quality, processing capacity, and export-import trade is vital for buyers, processors, and investors.

Top Raw Cashew Nut Producing Countries (2025 Estimates)

Country	Estimated RCN Production (MT)	Global Rank
Côte d’Ivoire	1,200,000+	1
India	800,000	2
Vietnam	380,000	3
Tanzania	300,000	4
Nigeria	250,000	5
Benin	230,000	6
Ghana	220,000	7
Guinea-Bissau	200,000	8
Mozambique	150,000	9
Indonesia, Brazil	~100,000 each	10+

RCN Quality Comparison: Size, Flavor & Shelf-Life

Country	Nut Size	Flavor Profile	Shelf Life	Grading Practices
India	Medium to large (W180–W320)	Rich, nutty, naturally sweet	High	Graded meticulously into 33 commercial grades
Vietnam	Uniform, medium	Mild, consistent	Very high	Mechanized, global-grade sorting
Côte d’Ivoire	Large (raw), often ungraded	Earthy, variable	Medium	Limited grading before export
Tanzania	Large and oil-rich	Rich, deep flavor	Medium	Minimal domestic grading
Benin/Ghana	Varies; moderate size	Strong flavor, good texture	Medium	Usually exported unprocessed

India’s hand-processed cashews are known for intact oil retention, flavor, and global-grade variety.

 Processing Facilities: Country-Wise Comparison

Country	Processing Capacity	Type	Technology Use	Notable Features
India	High (~1.5M MT/year)	Semi-automated + manual	Medium	Kollam (Kerala) is world’s cashew capital
Vietnam	Very High (~2M MT/year)	Fully mechanized	High	World’s top kernel exporter
Côte d’Ivoire	Limited (~10–15%)	Emerging, semi-mech	Low-Medium	Export-focused, few local processors
Tanzania	Limited	Mostly manual	Low	Gov. pushing for domestic processing
Nigeria/Ghana	Low to moderate	Mostly manual or basic	Low	High RCN output but export raw

Vietnam leads in efficiency and scale, while India excels in traditional quality.

Import and Export Volume Comparison

Exporters of Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN)

Country	RCN Export Volume (MT)	Major Destinations
Côte d’Ivoire	~1,000,000+	India, Vietnam, EU
Tanzania	~200,000	Vietnam, India
Nigeria, Ghana	~150,000+ each	India, UAE, EU
Guinea-Bissau	~180,000	India, Vietnam

Importers of RCN

Country	RCN Import Volume (MT)	Key Source Countries
India	1.3–1.4 million	Africa (Ivory Coast, Benin, etc.)
Vietnam	800,000+	Africa, Cambodia
Brazil, UAE	~50,000	Africa, India

Cashew Kernel Exporters

Country	Kernel Export Volume (MT)	Top Markets
Vietnam	730,000+	USA, EU, China
India	~65,000–75,000	UAE, Japan, UK, Netherlands
Brazil	~20,000	North America, Europe

Vietnam dominates global cashew kernel exports, while India is a major importer of RCN for reprocessing and re-export.

Government Incentives & Industry Support 

Country	Incentives & Policies
India	Reduced import duties (2.5%), 5% GST, cultivation support via MIDH/DCCD
Vietnam	FDI in processing plants, technology grants, export incentives
Côte d’Ivoire	Export tax waivers, guaranteed minimum prices, local processing grants
Tanzania	Tax exemptions for processors, raw cashew floor prices
Nigeria	Export promotion schemes, 5-year tax holiday for agro-processing

Governments in Africa are actively incentivizing domestic processing to reduce raw exports and build value chains.

Unlock Global Cashew Opportunities with Higgsmond

The global raw cashew nut (RCN) value chain is undergoing rapid transformation. Vietnam dominates kernel exports through precision automation, while India remains the gold standard for premium, hand-processed cashew grades. Simultaneously, African nations like Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania are scaling up in-house processing with supportive government policies and infrastructure development.

For cashew buyers, importers, nut processors, and agri-commodity investors, navigating this fragmented yet high-potential market demands a trusted, agile sourcing partner. That’s where Higgsmond makes a strategic difference and RCN buyers prefer to source through Higgsmond which is a leading B2B platform and commodity trading partner in India, specializing in the import, trade, and distribution of raw cashew nuts, spices, and specialty agri-commodities. With deep expertise in India’s RCN sourcing landscape and robust relationships with producers, port handlers, and processors, Higgsmond offers buyers: Access to Premium RCN Lots, Seamless EXIM & Compliance Support, Competitive Bulk Pricing & Transparent Terms, End-to-End Supply Chain Management and Custom Procurement for Processors & Re-exporters.

Whether you're a raw cashew nut processor, a cashew kernel re-exporter, or a wholesale distributor, Higgsmond provides one-stop access to India’s cashew procurement ecosystem, backed by domain intelligence and on-ground operational efficiency. Tap into one of the world’s largest RCN import hubs with confidence, traceability, and profitability.

Looking to Source RCN in Bulk? Get in touch with Higgsmond today, your trusted commodity trade partner in India for premium raw cashew nuts, bulk spice sourcing, and agri-trade facilitation.