Cambodia has remained the largest supplier of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam this year, with nearly one million tonnes, valued at over $1.47 billion, exported to the Vietnamese market in the first ten months, according to data from the General Department of Customs of Vietnam, reported by Vietnamnet Global on Sunday.
Between January and October, Vietnam imported a total of 2.6 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts worth almost $4 billion to sustain the production of processed kernels for export. This represented a 12.9 percent increase in volume and a sharp 37.1 percent rise in import value compared with the same period last year, as global raw material prices continued to strengthen. The average import price stood at $1,523 per tonne, up 21 percent from 2024.
During the same period, Vietnam exported 628,092 tonnes of processed cashew kernels, earning $4.28 billion. Although export volumes rose slightly by 2.8 percent, export revenue increased by 19.4 percent, supported by higher export prices.
Cambodia accounted for 36.8 percent of Vietnam’s total raw cashew imports, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading source of raw nuts. The volume imported from Cambodia increased by 18.5 percent, while the value surged by 39 percent year-on-year, marking the highest import level since 2022.
Cambodia has rapidly expanded its cashew cultivation areas in recent years and is now the second-largest producer of raw cashew nuts globally. The Cambodian Cashew Association reported that the Kingdom’s cashew exports reached $1.15 billion in 2024, with nearly 90 percent of the output shipped to Vietnam for processing.
Besides Cambodia, Vietnam also imports raw cashews from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania. However, domestic production continues to meet only a small portion of processing needs, supplying just over 300,000 tonnes annually out of the more than 3.5 million tonnes required.
Cambodia continues to hold its position as Vietnam’s leading supplier of raw cashew nuts, with exports valued at over $1.4 billion in the first ten months of the year, according to the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC).
Uon Silot, President of the CAC, told Khmer Times that the association’s own figures closely align with the reported data from Vietnam. “As for the data showing Vietnam imported cashews worth over $1.4 billion, the association does not dispute these figures. In fact, our report issued in August indicated that we exported 960,000 tonnes to Vietnam, with a total value of around $1.4 billion,” he said.
Silot added that the growth in Cambodia’s cashew industry is supported by an expansion in cultivation areas. “According to the Cambodian Cashew Association, the area dedicated to cashew cultivation has increased to more than 700,000 hectares. With recent declines in rice prices, farmers find it easier to turn to cashew cultivation, which typically yields a harvest within two to three years,” he explained.
The rising cashew exports highlight Cambodia’s growing role in the regional nut market, benefiting farmers and the country’s agricultural economy alike.
