Vietnam imports an enormous amount of cashew nuts annually. As Vietnam rapidly urbanizes, so does the rate of cashew consumption go up. Approximately half of the population in Vietnam is found in cities and towns with many of them living in and around the city of Ho Chi Minh.
Vietnam is one of the few countries that is reporting a significant rate of growth in volume of cashew imports. Thanks to the foodservice sector, cashew nuts are in great demand in Vietnam. The rising number of tourists visiting the South-Eastern Asian country is also behind the spike in importation of cashews.
Cashew Nuts in Vietnam
Not only is the disposable income of Vietnamese consumers increasing but also their awareness of the health benefits of cashew nuts. More people in the country are willing to go for cashews when it comes to buying of nuts. Besides that, their perception about cashew nuts is changing after bold marketing campaigns by cashew industry players in Vietnam.
The food processing industry in Vietnam is coming up with a variety of products that have cashews in them so as to attract new and traditional customers. This is because healthier snacking is a trend that is catching on among the Vietnamese. Cashews are expected to continue to flow into the country as eating habits change.
Since Vietnam is a more price-sensitive cashew market, food processing companies are taking measures to avoid passing on the climbing cost of production to customers. Some of them are absorbing part of the costs which in turn reduces their profit margin. This strategy tends to have little effect on demand.
Cashew Nuts Vietnam
Considering that demand for cashews in Vietnam exceeds domestic production, imported cashews are available for most part of the year. In 2022, Vietnam shipped in nearly 2 million tonnes of cashew nuts. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high volume. This data includes both raw cashew nuts (in-shell) and shelled cashews.
Vietnam imports raw cashew nuts in bulk. Over the last decade, cashew imports in Vietnam have enjoyed steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2018 to 2019 at over 500%. The peak volume was in the year 2021 at 2,559,780 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of cashew nuts in Vietnam between 2013 and 2022
Importing Cashew Nuts in Vietnam
Here is a step by step guide on how to import cashews into Vietnam
Cashew Supplying Countries to Vietnam
The cashew import market in Vietnam is dominated by Cambodia. It has gained in market share from exporting cashews worth 68 million US Dollars to reach 1 billion US Dollars. The Vietnamese cashew market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key cashew supplying countries to Vietnam are:
- Ivory Coast
- Ghana
- Nigeria
- Tanzania
- Indonesia
It imports cashews in smaller volumes from countries like:
- Senegal
- Mozambique
- Togo
Vietnam brings cashews from abroad through its main airport. Cashews get in the country as air freight by way of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The airport has a modern cargo terminal.
The other way cashews enter Vietnam is through its main commercial sea port. Cashews get into the country as sea freight by way of Hai Phong Port. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Cashew Suppliers in Vietnam
Cashew importers in Vietnam must follow these procedures for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Have an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Have a Phytosanitary certificate from the Agricultural Authority of the exporting country
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Commercial invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
Here is a top cashew exporter in Kenya
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of cashew nuts and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of raw cashew nuts and shelled cashews. We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.