The Ultimate Guide to Importing from Cambodia: How a 0% Tariff is Boosting Vietnam’s Economy

Preliminary statistics from the Customs Department reveal that cashew nut imports to Vietnam in June reached over 281,000 tons, valued at more than $419 million, a decrease of 0.9% in volume and 3.4% in value compared to May.

Cumulative imports in the first half of 2025 totaled over 1.6 million tons, with a value of over $2.49 billion, up 7.1% in volume and a significant 38.1% in value compared to the same period in 2024.

In terms of market share, Cambodia was Vietnam’s largest cashew nut supplier in the first half of 2025, with over 890,000 tons, worth over $1.35 billion, an increase of 14% in volume and 35% in value compared to the same period last year. The average price was $1,516 per ton, up 18% from the previous year.

Côte d’Ivoire ranked second among Vietnam’s cashew nut suppliers, with over 152,000 tons, valued at more than $244 million, a decrease of 30% in volume and 0.7% in value compared to the previous year. Prices rose sharply by 43%, equivalent to $1,600 per ton.

Nigeria was Vietnam’s third-largest cashew nut supplier, with over 151,000 tons, worth over $225 million, an increase of 31% in volume and a significant 79% in value. Prices rose by 37% compared to the previous year, reaching an average of $1,487 per ton.

Cambodia plays a crucial role in Vietnam’s cashew industry. Specifically, Vietnam’s neighbor has 435,733 hectares of cashew cultivation, with a yield of 508,283 tons (as of 2022). Also, in 2022, Cambodia exported 471,520 tons of raw cashew nuts, earning over $1.07 billion. Of this, 98.5% of Cambodia’s cashew export volume was sold to Vietnam.

The Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BTC guiding the special preferential import tax for goods of Cambodian origin imported into Vietnam. Accordingly, the Circular stipulates that goods of Cambodian origin imported into Vietnam are subject to a special preferential import tax rate of 0%, specifically for the following items:

Coconut, Brazil nuts, and cashew nuts, fresh or dried, shelled or unshelled; Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, and mangosteens, fresh or dried; Various melons (including watermelons) and papayas, fresh;

Rice; Molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar; Products made from cassava starch and substitute products prepared from starch, in the form of flakes, grains, pellets, siftings, or similar forms;

Thus, cashew nuts imported from Cambodia and other ASEAN countries are subject to a 0% import tax, while imports from non-ASEAN markets are taxed at 5%.

Vietnam is currently the world’s leading exporter of cashew nuts, particularly cashew kernels, accounting for over 80% of global cashew nut exports. Vietnamese cashew kernel products are present in more than 90 countries and territories.

Despite being the top exporter, Vietnam still imports a large volume of raw cashew nuts for processing. This indicates that Vietnam’s cashew industry is strong in processing and exporting but has room for further development in the cashew value chain.