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According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s cashew nut imports in August reached over 270,000 tons, valued at more than $394 million, a decrease of 8.7% in volume and 9.7% in value compared to July. Cumulatively, in the first eight months of the year, the country imported over 2.1 million tons of cashew nuts, worth over $3.3 billion, an increase of 8.6% in volume and a significant 36.6% in value compared to the same period in 2025.
In terms of market share, Cambodia remains Vietnam’s largest cashew nut supplier, with over 936,000 tons valued at more than $1.4 billion, marking a robust 17% increase in volume and 38% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average import price also rose by 18%, reaching $1,519 per ton.
Côte d’Ivoire follows as the second-largest supplier, with over 403,000 tons valued at more than $615 million, reflecting a 2% increase in volume and a substantial 34% rise in value compared to the first eight months of 2024. The average import price stood at $1,529 per ton, a 31% increase.
Nigeria ranks as the third-largest cashew nut supplier to Vietnam. Since the beginning of the year, the African nation has shipped over 240,000 tons of cashew nuts to Vietnam, with a turnover exceeding $351 million, up 13% in volume and 44% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average import price surged by 27%, reaching $1,457 per ton.
Despite being one of the world’s largest pepper producers and exporters, Vietnam still imports tens of thousands of tons of pepper annually. This is due to lower pepper prices in countries like Brazil and Cambodia, driven by larger supplies and lower production costs.
Cambodia, Vietnam’s top cashew nut supplier, currently cultivates cashews on approximately 700,000 hectares, with Kampong Thom leading at nearly 148,000 hectares, followed by Kratie (103,000 hectares) and Ratanakiri (97,000 hectares). However, the domestic processing chain remains fragmented, with around 50 active enterprises. Only six medium-sized facilities can process between 7,000 and 14,000 tons annually, while the majority are small household operations with unstable output.
The Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BTC, which provides guidelines on special preferential import tariffs for goods originating from the Kingdom of Cambodia. Under this circular, goods from Cambodia imported into Vietnam, including cashew nuts, enjoy a special preferential import tax rate of 0%. Consequently, cashew nuts imported from Cambodia and other ASEAN countries have a 0% import tax, while those from non-ASEAN markets face a 5% tax.
Vietnam maintains its position as the world’s largest cashew nut exporter, holding the top spot for consecutive years. Leveraging advanced processing technology, Vietnam has achieved record export volumes and revenues, meeting the growing global demand. In 2025, Vietnam’s cashew nut exports are projected to reach $4.5 billion, a 2.7% increase from 2024, driven by higher average selling prices offsetting a slight decline in production volume during the first half of the year.
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