Origins / growing areas
India and Vietnam are the two largest single growers of Cashew nuts, and the main suppliers of the market. The processing capacity in these two countries exceeds the crop and therefore they both import a lot of raw material from outside growing areas, like Africa. Raw nuts are then processed in India and Vietnam and exported as Indian or Vietnamese kernels.Another major player is Brazil who’s main export market is the USA, mainly due to the short voyage time and the growing need to have just-in-time deliveries and lower stocks. Cashew nuts are also growing in Indonesia, East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique) and West Africa (Benin, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast, Nigeria and some smaller producing countries).

Harvest times / Shipment times
India/Vietnam/Indonesia : 2-3 harvests, starting in March and ending in June.
Brazil : starting in November/December and finishing in January/early February.
West Africa : February/March.
East Africa : October/November.

Nothing much has changed in the last few weeks. Very little offers since most of the Vietnam packers are shut for the Tet Holidays. India adjusted their prices as well but they are still higher the Vietnam since they have a thriving domestic market with little pressure to export. Very little 240’s out there and any being offered will be end of crop and not of the highest quality. We will have new crop next month for shelling so around 2 months till we start seeing shipments. Should be a good decent crop, we advise to book some your 2nd 3rd QTR needs. Unlike Almonds this commodity has held firm “since it was never too expensive to start”.