Be confident in the raw cashew output of Vietnam and Cambodia

Vietnam's cashew industry has been significantly dependent on imported raw materials for many years, as it is the world's largest cashew processor and exporter.  Approximately 2.5 million tons of raw cashews were imported in 2024, with a value of 3.1 billion USD.

With this import volume, Vietnam continues to be the world's largest importer of raw cashews.  In 2024, Cambodia surpassed other suppliers to become the largest raw cashew provider in Vietnam, with 783,000 tons. Ivory Coast, on the other hand, fell to second place with 621,000 tons due to a preference for selling raw cashews to domestic processors and a decline in output.  Furthermore, Vietnam imported substantial quantities of goods from African nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau.

Due to their heavy reliance on imported raw cashews, Vietnamese cashew enterprises have repeatedly faced difficulties and challenges, especially as the raw cashew market is highly unpredictable, particularly the African raw cashew market.

In 2024, the raw cashew market underwent uncertain fluctuations, which resulted in substantial challenges for enterprises, as reported by the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS).  In the initial quarter, raw cashew prices fluctuated between 1,000 and 1,100 USD per ton. However, they increased to 1,600-1,700 USD per ton in June and July.

Ivory Coast abruptly implemented a provisional suspension of raw cashew exports on May 7, 2024, to guarantee that its domestic processors could have an adequate supply of raw materials.  Ivory Coast, the world's largest producer and exporter of raw cashews, supplies the majority of its production to Vietnam, the largest cashew processor and the source of 80% of the global cashew kernel exports.  Therefore, the global cashew supply chain was disrupted by the nearly three-month-long export suspension of Ivory Coast, resulting in price fluctuations and financial risks throughout the industry. This had a substantial impact on the business performance of Vietnamese enterprises.

As a result, a favorable cashew harvest in Vietnam and Cambodia—where Vietnamese companies purchase the majority of Cambodia's cashew output—will enhance the security of Vietnam's cashew industry by decreasing its dependence on raw cashew imports from Africa. 

According to observations in Binh Phuoc, the province that covers half of Vietnam's total cashew-growing area, the cashew season is progressing smoothly, as weather conditions have not presented any substantial obstacles to the development of cashew trees. 

Mong Van Lung, a farmer in Duc Lieu Commune, Bu Dang District, Binh Phuoc, stated that the yield of this year is still too early to predict due to the high dependence of cashew trees on weather conditions.  However, the chances of a better harvest compared to the 2024 season seem promising.'

Ta Quang Huyen, the General Director of Hoang Son 1 Joint Stock Company (Binh Phuoc), anticipates that cashew production in Binh Phuoc will increase by 25% in comparison to 2024.

Also, it is anticipated that the production of raw cashews in Cambodia will continue to increase.  Despite the fact that the cashew yield in Cambodia did not increase in 2024, the volume of Cambodian raw cashews imported into Vietnam increased as a result of the fruit production of numerous cashew plantations that were established in previous years, according to Huyen.  As a result, it is anticipated that Cambodia's cashew production will range from 1 million to 1.1 million tons this year. M eanwhile, Vietnam's raw cashew output is estimated to be between 450,000 and 500,000 tons.  This means that the combined raw cashew production of Vietnam and Cambodia is anticipated to reach approximately 1.5 million tons.

Cao Thuc Uy, Director of Cao Phat Co., Ltd. (Ba Ria – Vung Tau), disclosed that he annually traverses the cashew-growing provinces of Cambodia to evaluate the cashew harvest.  He returned to Cambodia in early March of this year to evaluate the cashew crop for 2025.  Uy noted: "Cambodia has many cashew plantations that were established three to four years ago and are now entering their commercial production cycle.  In general, the 2025 cashew harvest in Cambodia is proceeding smoothly.  Based on my personal assessment, Cambodia is likely to have a good harvest this year."

Uy reports that Cambodia currently has a plethora of large-scale cashew plantations, some of which span 500 to 600 hectares and some of which exceed 1,000 hectares.  These plantations are managed in a highly professional manner, with significant investments in apparatus and technology, due to the strong financial capacity of the farm owners.  Consequently, Cambodian cashews are not only of high quality but also produce high yields.  Cao Phat Co., Ltd. recently processed numerous quantities of Cambodian cashews that were recently harvested during the 2025 season, resulting in a kernel recovery rate of up to 30%.