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Processed food

Export cashew kernels

Graded kernels (W180–W450, splits, pieces) and roasted cashew. CEPCI is the council; Vietnam and the UAE are top buyers.

Free to exportHS 0801.32
HS code
0801.32
Cashew nuts, shelled (kernels). In-shell raw cashew is 0801.31; cashew shell liquid (CNSL) is now under 1302 19 50 and 1302 19 60.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. Take an RCMC from the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) to claim export benefits.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 379 mn
to 67 countries

What is exported

India processes local and imported raw cashew in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. In 2025-26 India exported 32,999 tonnes of kernels worth US$ 265 million, plus roasted and value-added cashew. Vietnam, the UAE, the Netherlands, Japan and Spain were the main buyers. Kernels ship vacuum-packed in tins or bags under carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • White wholes — W180, W210, W240, W320, W450Number = kernels per pound; W180 is the largest and dearest, W320 the most traded.
  • Scorched and dessert wholes (SW, SSW, DW)Slightly discoloured kernels at lower prices.
  • Splits, butts and pieces (S, B, LWP, SWP)Broken grades for confectionery and bakery.
  • Roasted, salted and flavoured cashewValue-added retail packs (2008 19 10).

Where it is grown or made

  • KeralaKollam — the traditional cashew processing capital.
  • KarnatakaMangaluru and Udupi processing units.
  • Maharashtra and GoaSindhudurg and Ratnagiri orchards; Goa cashew.
  • Andhra Pradesh and OdishaPalasa (Srikakulam) cluster; coastal Odisha.

Season

Indian raw nuts are harvested roughly February–May; factories also process imported raw nuts, so kernels ship all year.

Export packing

  • Vacuum-packed or CO₂/nitrogen-flushed flexible pouches, two per carton (standard 2 × 11.34 kg = 50 lb carton).
  • Tins for some traditional buyers; retail packs for roasted cashew.

Who buys abroad

  • Nut importers and roasters in the UAE, Netherlands, Germany and Japan
  • Snack brands and supermarket private labels
  • Confectionery and bakery makers (pieces)

The quality buyers ask for

Whole grades
W180, W210, W240, W320, W450 — the number is the count of kernels per pound (W240 = 220–240 per lb)
Other grades
Scorched wholes (SW), splits (S), butts (B), large and small white pieces (LWP, SWP), baby bits (BB)
Moisture
Typically about 5% maximum; higher moisture invites mould and rancidity
Standards
AGMARK cashew kernel grades (DMI); UNECE standard for cashew kernels; buyers often use AFI specifications
Defects and safety
No live insects, mould or rancidity; limits on spotted and immature kernels; Salmonella absent

Certificates

  • CEPCI RCMCRequiredRegistration with the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India, needed to claim export benefits.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • HACCPOften askedA food-safety plan that identifies hazards at each processing step and controls them. Most importers ask for it from the processing unit.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI-recognised standard asked for by UK and many EU supermarkets for private-label packing.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management system certification. FSSC 22000 is recognised by GFSI, which large retailers and brand owners look for.
  • KosherOften askedAsked for by some US and Israeli buyers and by ingredient buyers who supply kosher brands.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedNeeded only if you sell the product as organic: NPOP certification by an accredited body, plus the buyer market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Kernels are vacuum-packed or gas-flushed in 25 lb (11.34 kg) tins or flexible pouches, two per carton; a 20-ft container typically holds about 700 cartons (about 15.9 tonnes).

How it travels

Sea freight from Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai, Mangaluru and Mormugao.

Storage

Cool and dry; once the vacuum is lost, kernels pick up moisture and go rancid.

Shelf life

Typically about 12 months in intact vacuum packs.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • Cartons show grade (e.g. W320), crop or packing date, net weight, “Product of India” and the packer’s code.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in both US and metric units, ingredients, allergens, name and place of business of the packer or distributor, Nutrition Facts unless exempt; and “Product of India” marking (19 CFR 134).
Where to get it tested

CEPCI offers cashew testing (see cashewindia.org); otherwise use APEDA-recognised or NABL-accredited labs (search nabl-india.org) for moisture, microbes and aflatoxin.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CEPCIRCMC from the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India.cashewindia.org ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI rules put food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS and keep it valid for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Grade (count per pound), colour and broken percentage as per buyer specification (often AFI specifications in the USA and Europe).
  • Moisture, infestation, aflatoxin and Salmonella; EU and US buyers test on arrival.
  • Food-safety certification of the factory (HACCP, BRC or similar) for retail buyers.
How to start small

Buy graded W320 or W240 kernels from a Kollam or Mangaluru processor and ship LCL tins to a Gulf dry-fruit wholesaler, or sell roasted and flavoured packs to Indian grocers abroad.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Mixing grades or re-packing old stock; buyers count and grade every lot and claim the difference.
  • Vacuum leaks in tins, which lead to rancid, infested kernels on arrival.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. APEDA — Cashew (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI)
  3. DGFT Notification 26/2026-27 (27 Jul 2026) — Schedule 2 synced with Finance Act 2026 (new CNSL lines)

Trade data

Indian cashew kernels exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 379 mn
-2.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +11.9%
US$ 338 mn → US$ 379 mn
Buyer countries
67
Average export price
US$ 3.42
per kg · 1,10,759 tonnes shipped · US$ 5.18 the year before
Vietnam: US$ 111 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 63.9 mnNetherlands: US$ 41 mnJapan: US$ 36.1 mnSpain: US$ 23.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 18.5 mnKuwait: US$ 10.1 mnQatar: US$ 8.2 mnSingapore: US$ 7 mnOman: US$ 6.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 6.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 5.3 mnGermany: US$ 4.2 mnNepal: US$ 3.5 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.8 mnUnited States of America: US$ 1.6 mnMauritius: US$ 620kVietnam: US$ 111 mnVietnamUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 63.9 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNetherlands: US$ 41 mnNetherlandsJapan: US$ 36.1 mnJapanSpain: US$ 23.6 mnSpainSaudi Arabia: US$ 18.5 mnKuwait: US$ 10.1 mnQatar: US$ 8.2 mnSingapore: US$ 7 mnSingaporeOman: US$ 6.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 6.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 5.3 mnGermany: US$ 4.2 mnNepal: US$ 3.5 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.8 mnUnited States of America: US$ 1.6 mnMauritius: US$ 620kIndia
Where Indian cashew kernels goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 420 mn4202020-212021-22: US$ 453 mn4532021-222022-23: US$ 356 mn3562022-232023-24: US$ 339 mn3392023-242024-25: US$ 338 mn3382024-252025-26: US$ 379 mn3792025-26
India’s cashew kernels exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2025-26 — a 76% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 6.00 per kg2021-22: US$ 6.01 per kg6.012022-23: US$ 5.98 per kg2024-25: US$ 5.18 per kg2025-26: US$ 3.42 per kg3.422020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian cashew kernels · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 420 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 453 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 356 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 339 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 338 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 379 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 328 mn (US$ 285 mn – US$ 377 mn)3282026-272027-28: US$ 314 mn (US$ 269 mn – US$ 367 mn)3142027-28
India’s cashew kernels exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 314 mn

Likely range US$ 269 mn to US$ 367 mn.

Trend
-4.1% a year
Fit (R²)
0.42 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1VietnamUS$ 111 mn+161.4%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 63.9 mn-20.8%
3NetherlandsUS$ 41 mn+15.7%
4JapanUS$ 36.1 mn-2.6%
5SpainUS$ 23.6 mn-17.4%
6Saudi ArabiaUS$ 18.5 mn-35.9%
7KuwaitUS$ 10.1 mn-4.9%
8QatarUS$ 8.2 mn-19%
9UnspecifiedUS$ 7.6 mn+619.8%
10SingaporeUS$ 7 mn+16.9%
11OmanUS$ 6.8 mn-6.1%
12MalaysiaUS$ 6.7 mn+35.9%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. UnspecifiedUS$ 1.1 mn → US$ 7.6 mn+619.8%
  2. VietnamUS$ 42.4 mn → US$ 111 mn+161.4%
  3. MalaysiaUS$ 4.9 mn → US$ 6.7 mn+35.9%
  4. SingaporeUS$ 6 mn → US$ 7 mn+16.9%
  5. NetherlandsUS$ 35.4 mn → US$ 41 mn+15.7%
  6. GreeceUS$ 3.5 mn → US$ 4 mn+13.5%
  7. BangladeshUS$ 4.8 mn → US$ 5.3 mn+11%

Low demand

  1. United States of AmericaUS$ 7.8 mn → US$ 1.6 mn-79.8%
  2. GermanyUS$ 7.7 mn → US$ 4.2 mn-45.1%
  3. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 28.8 mn → US$ 18.5 mn-35.9%
  4. BahrainUS$ 5.3 mn → US$ 3.5 mn-33.6%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 80.8 mn → US$ 63.9 mn-20.8%
  6. QatarUS$ 10.1 mn → US$ 8.2 mn-19%
  7. SpainUS$ 28.6 mn → US$ 23.6 mn-17.4%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Nuts, edible, cashew nuts, fresh or dried, shelled — cashew karnel, whole0801 32 20US$ 252 mn-11.3%30,533 tonnesUS$ 8.26 per kgwas US$ 7.90
Cashen nuts fresh/dried in shell0801 31 00 · Nuts, edible, cashew nuts, fresh or dried, in shellUS$ 114 mn+155.9%77,760 tonnesUS$ 1.46 per kgwas US$ 1.61
Nuts, edible, cashew nuts, fresh or dried, shelled — cashew karnel, broken0801 32 10US$ 11.3 mn+42.7%1,533 tonnesUS$ 7.39 per kgwas US$ 7.30
Nuts, edible, cashew nuts, fresh or dried, shelled — other cashew kernel0801 32 90US$ 1.6 mn-7.5%933 tonnesUS$ 1.72 per kgwas US$ 2.49

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 8.02 bn
2023
India among exporters
#3
of 117 countries
India’s share of world exports
5.2%
US$ 357 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 6.44 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1Viet NamUS$ 2.92 bn 42.9%
  2. 2Côte d'IvoireUS$ 1.25 bn 18.3%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 357 mn 5.2%
  4. 4NigeriaUS$ 352 mn 5.2%
  5. 5NetherlandsUS$ 288 mn 4.2%
  6. 6GhanaUS$ 258 mn 3.8%
  7. 7United Rep. of TanzaniaUS$ 220 mn 3.2%
  8. 8GermanyUS$ 206 mn 3%
  9. 9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 167 mn 2.5%
  10. 10SenegalUS$ 133 mn 2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1Viet NamUS$ 2.76 bn 34.4%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 1.36 bn 16.9%
  3. 3USAUS$ 844 mn 10.5%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 424 mn 5.3%
  5. 5NetherlandsUS$ 298 mn 3.7%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 256 mn 3.2%
  7. 7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 211 mn 2.6%
  8. 8United KingdomUS$ 143 mn 1.8%
  9. 9TürkiyeUS$ 130 mn 1.6%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 125 mn 1.6%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

VietnamUS$ 2.36 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 2.36 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1.07 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 1.06 bn
GermanyUS$ 441 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 432 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 316 mnIndia 12% · gap US$ 278 mn
ChinaUS$ 237 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 237 mn
United KingdomUS$ 143 mnIndia 2.6% · gap US$ 139 mn
FranceUS$ 136 mnIndia 3.3% · gap US$ 132 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 211 mnIndia 50% · gap US$ 106 mn
SpainUS$ 131 mnIndia 21.9% · gap US$ 102 mn
AustraliaUS$ 92.4 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 92.4 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export cashew kernels

India is a large cashew processor and also imports raw nuts from Africa to keep its factories running. APEDA reports India was the world’s fourth-largest exporter of shelled cashew in 2024, with about 6.6% of the market; Vietnam leads by a wide margin and Côte d’Ivoire is growing its own processing. Much Indian output is eaten at home, so exporters compete on quality, not volume. Buyers are the UAE, the Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the USA. The openings are top whole grades, roasted and flavoured kernels, organic cashew and cashew-based foods.

  1. 01Register with CEPCI

    Take the RCMC from CEPCI after IEC and FSSAI.

  2. 02Choose a processor

    Buy from processors in Kollam, Mangaluru, Goa or Panruti with hygiene certification and consistent grading.

  3. 03Agree grade and pack

    Fix grade, colour, moisture, packing (tin or pouch) and labels against a sample.

  4. 04Test and inspect

    Test moisture, microbes and aflatoxin; many buyers send an inspector before stuffing.

  5. 05Ship

    Stuff, file the shipping bill and send documents with the certificate of origin.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting cashew kernels

What does W320 mean?
White whole kernels with 300–320 kernels per pound — the most traded grade.
Why do kernels arrive rancid?
Leaking vacuum packs, high moisture or heat. Check every tin or pouch for vacuum before cartoning.
Can I export Indian cashew made from imported raw nuts?
Processing in India usually gives Indian origin, but check the rules of origin of the destination’s trade agreement before claiming duty benefits.
Which markets pay most?
Japan, the EU and the Gulf pay for white, uniform whole grades; pieces go to bakeries and food makers.
Is roasted cashew a separate product?
Yes — it is a processed food needing FSSAI licensing of the roasting unit, labels for retail and often BRCGS or FSSC 22000.
Sources (4)
  1. APEDA — Cashew profile (India’s export rank and share, 2024)
  2. Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI)
  3. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection — AGMARK grade standards (commodity-wise rules)
  4. NABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (laboratory search)

Who buys Indian cashew kernels

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