Cashew
The cashew is the kidney shaped seed that hangs beneath the fleshy cashew apple of Anacardium occidentale, a tree native to Brazil and now grown across West Africa, East Africa and South and Southeast Asia. The seed sits inside a double shell holding a caustic liquid, so it is steamed or roasted, shelled, peeled of its testa and dried before it can be eaten. Trade runs in two distinct forms: raw cashew nut in shell, which moves from growing countries to shelling countries, and cashew kernel, the finished white nut. Kernels are sold to snack packers, bakery and confectionery makers, cereal and bar manufacturers, and increasingly to producers of cashew butter, cashew milk and dairy alternatives. Broken grades and pieces go into paste, cooking sauces and industrial food. The shell liquid pressed out during processing is itself a commodity, used in friction linings, resins and coatings.
Listed cashew markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
A cashew kernel is graded on three things at once: colour, whether the kernel is whole or broken, and its size expressed as a count. A raw nut in shell is graded on how much good kernel it yields.
Kernel colour class
3 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| ExtraWhite | White, pale ivory, pale ash grey or light yellow. Total tolerance for kernels not meeting the minimum requirements is 6 per cent. Sizing is compulsory in this class. |
| Class IScorched or lightly blemished | Light brown, light ivory, light ash grey, deep ivory or yellow. Total tolerance 9 per cent. Sizing is optional. |
| Class IIScorched seconds or dessert | Light brown, amber, light blue, deep brown, deep blue, discoloured, black spotted, immature, blemished and stained kernels are permitted. Total tolerance 12 per cent. Sizing is optional. |
Whole kernel size count
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| 150Maximum 150 per lb | Not more than 150 kernels per pound, not more than 325 per kilogram. |
| 180Maximum 180 per lb | Not more than 180 kernels per pound, not more than 395 per kilogram. |
| 210Maximum 210 per lb | Not more than 210 kernels per pound, not more than 465 per kilogram. |
| 240Maximum 240 per lb | Not more than 240 kernels per pound, not more than 530 per kilogram. |
| 320Maximum 320 per lb | Not more than 320 kernels per pound, not more than 706 per kilogram. |
| 450Maximum 450 per lb | Not more than 450 kernels per pound, not more than 990 per kilogram. |
| 500Maximum 500 per lb | Not more than 500 kernels per pound, not more than 1100 per kilogram. |
Broken and piece size
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Butts and splitsPart kernels | Butts are kernels broken crosswise with the cotyledons still attached. Splits are the two separated cotyledons of a kernel split lengthwise. |
| Large piecesRetained on 4.75 mm | Kernel pieces that will not pass through a 4.75 mm aperture sieve. |
| Small piecesRetained on 2.80 mm | Kernel pieces that will not pass through a 2.80 mm aperture sieve. |
| Very small piecesRetained on 2.36 mm | Kernel pieces that will not pass through a 2.36 mm aperture sieve. |
| Baby bitsRetained on 1.70 mm | Granules that will not pass through a 1.70 mm aperture sieve. |
Defect tolerance
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mould, rancidity or decayExtra 0.5, Class I 1, Class II 1 | Maximum percentage of kernels affected by mould, rancidity or decay. |
| Pest damageExtra 0.5, Class I 1, Class II 1 | Maximum percentage of kernels damaged by pests. Living pests are not permitted in any class. |
| Not sufficiently developedExtra 1, Class I 2 | Maximum percentage of shrunken or shrivelled kernels. Not applicable in Class II. |
| Superficial damageExtra 1, Class I 2, Class II 5 | Maximum percentage of whole kernels showing superficial damage. |
| Broken kernels in wholesAll classes 10 | Maximum percentage of butts, splits and pieces present in a lot sold as whole kernels. |
| Foreign matterAll classes 0.1 | Maximum percentage by weight of foreign matter, loose shell fragments, loose testa fragments and dust. |
Raw nut in shell outturn
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OutturnKernel outturn ratio in lb per 80 kg bag | The recoverable good kernel from an 80 kilogram bag of raw nut, established by cut test and stated as a contract figure with a tolerance. |
| Nut countNuts per kilogram | The number of raw nuts in a kilogram. A lower count means a larger nut and generally a larger kernel. |
| MoisturePercentage by weight | Raw nut is dried before shipment. The contract states the maximum moisture and the basis for any moisture allowance. |
| Defective nutsPercentage by count from the cut test | The proportion of immature, spotted, mouldy or insect damaged nuts found in the cut test. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Cote d Ivoire | West Africa | Origin |
| Ghana | West Africa | Origin |
| Nigeria | West Africa | Origin |
| Benin | West Africa | Origin |
| Guinea-Bissau | West Africa | Origin |
| Senegal | West Africa | Origin |
| Burkina Faso | West Africa | Origin |
| Togo | West Africa | Origin |
| Tanzania | East Africa | Origin |
| Mozambique | East Africa | Origin |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Cambodia | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| China | East Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Europe | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cote d Ivoire | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to May, arrival May to JulRaw nut season opens in February. Kernel from Ivorian shelling ships through the second half of the year. | ||||||
| Guinea-Bissau | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to AugA short, concentrated raw nut season. Almost all volume moves in the second quarter. | |||||||
| Tanzania | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Dec, arrival Dec to FebRaw nut is sold through a warehouse receipt auction system from October. | |||||||
| Mozambique | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Dec, arrival Dec to FebSeason runs against the West African crop and supplies both local shelling and export. | |||||||
| Vietnam | Arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Jan to DecVietnam grows its own crop from February but ships kernel all year from imported raw nut. |
| India | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to May, arrival Jan to DecDomestic crop from March. Indian shellers run year round on imported African raw nut. |
| Brazil | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Sep to Jan, arrival Nov to FebNortheast Brazilian crop, shelled locally and shipped as kernel. | ||||||
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Oct to DecSulawesi and Nusa Tenggara crop, sold largely as raw nut into regional shelling. | |||||||
| Nigeria | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to May, arrival Apr to JulRaw nut season broadly tracks the West African pattern. | ||||||
| Ghana | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Apr, arrival Mar to JunOne of the earliest West African raw nut seasons. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for cashew. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading0801.31 Cashew nuts, in shell
0801.32 Cashew nuts, shelled - PackingIn shell in jute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg. Kernels vacuum packed in cartons or tins of 10 kg to 25 kg, nitrogen flushed for high oil content nuts. Moisture at pack is the specification that decides shelf life.
- Container loading20ft: 14 t to 19 t. In shell is weight limited, kernel is volume limited. Reefer at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius for long transits on high oil kernels.
- Contract and arbitrationINC quality standards with the Dried Fruit and Edible Nut trade contract in Europe, arbitration in London, and Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration for United States trade.
- Destination limitsEU aflatoxin limits under Regulation 2023/915, being 2 ug/kg B1 and 4 ug/kg total for ready to eat nuts and higher where the lot is to be sorted before consumption. Salmonella controls, and increased official controls under Regulation 2019/1793 for several origins. US FDA action level of 20 ug/kg total aflatoxin.
Common questions
What grades of cashew does SIP Global trade?
We quote 25 published grades of cashew, including Extra - White, Class I - Scorched or lightly blemished, Class II - Scorched seconds or dessert, 150 - Maximum 150 per lb, 180 - Maximum 180 per lb and 210 - Maximum 210 per lb. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is cashew graded?
A cashew kernel is graded on three things at once: colour, whether the kernel is whole or broken, and its size expressed as a count. A raw nut in shell is graded on how much good kernel it yields. Grading runs on 5 systems: Kernel colour class, Whole kernel size count, Broken and piece size, Defect tolerance and Raw nut in shell outturn.
Where does SIP Global trade cashew?
We trade cashew in India, Vietnam, Cote d Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal and 20 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is cashew harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Cote d Ivoire: harvest feb to may, arrival may to jul; Guinea-Bissau: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to aug; Tanzania: harvest oct to dec, arrival dec to feb; Mozambique: harvest oct to dec, arrival dec to feb; Vietnam: harvest feb to apr, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for cashew?
Cashew is normally classified under HS 0801.31 (cashew nuts, in shell) and HS 0801.32 (cashew nuts, shelled). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for cashew?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 3 listed cashew markets are published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.