Cashew Market Data, Kernel Grades and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-10Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$10.6B

Producing countries tracked

11

Grading systems

2

Active supply risks

6

Trade corridors

6

Latest reviewed evidence

The production and trade observations below come from the February 2026 Codex circular's updated project document and underlying FAOSTAT series through 2023. UNECE DDP-17 supplies current international commercial-quality definitions for kernels, while Codex codes cover tree-nut hygiene and aflatoxin risk. These dated statistics and standards are not current lot availability, a current physical offer or a live delivered cashew price.

World cashew nuts in-shell production

3.934839

million metric tons · calendar year 2023

World cashew harvested area

6.163897

million hectares · calendar year 2023

World shelled cashew exports

781503

metric tons · calendar year 2023

World shelled cashew imports

710144

metric tons · calendar year 2023

UNECE whole-kernel intact threshold

87.5

percent of original kernel · DDP-17, 2023 issue

In-shell nuts, kernels and prepared cashews are separate products

Raw cashew nuts retain shell, shell liquid and processing yield risk; edible kernels have been heated, shelled and peeled. UNECE DDP-17 applies to unprepared kernels and excludes products processed by salting, sugaring, flavoring, roasting or oil frying, as well as kernels for industrial processing. Codex's 2026 proposal likewise focuses on kernels from sound mature fruit for direct consumption, repacking or catering. Atlas retains product stage, processing history and intended use before comparing production, quality, price or trade records.

Whole, butts, splits and pieces are distinct kernel styles

UNECE defines a whole kernel as having more than seven eighths of its characteristic shape intact. Brokens include butts of at least three eighths of a whole kernel broken crosswise with cotyledons attached, splits separated lengthwise with limited loss, and pieces broken into more than two parts. Commercial records should preserve style, size designation or count, class, color, scorching or discoloration, adhering testa, shriveling, breakage, insect and mold damage, foreign matter, tolerances, sampling and inspection basis rather than collapsing everything into a single kernel grade.

Hygiene, moisture and aflatoxin evidence travel with the lot

Codex CXC 6-1972 recognizes different sanitation problems for in-shell nuts and nut meats and applies to cashews. CXC 59-2005 addresses aflatoxin prevention and reduction across tree-nut production, processing and storage. A comparable physical record should retain moisture and test method, drying and storage controls, pest and mold findings, aflatoxin certificate and sampling plan where required, microbiological criteria, processor and facility, treatment, production and best-before dates, packaging barrier, container condition and chain-of-custody documents. A marketing style or count does not replace food-safety evidence.

Dated crop and trade totals do not determine a delivered cashew price

The Codex February 2026 project document reports FAOSTAT observations of 3.934839 million metric tons of cashew nuts in shell and 6.163897 million hectares harvested in 2023. It also reports 781,503 metric tons of shelled exports and 710,144 metric tons of shelled imports for 2023. These are dated world aggregates across origins, raw and kernel conversion stages, styles, grades and delivery terms. A delivered price still requires a defined lot, current permitted physical evidence, kernel yield or product basis, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and information vintage.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are raw cashew nuts and cashew kernels interchangeable trade products?

No. In-shell nuts contain shell and processing-yield risk, while kernels have been heated, shelled and peeled. Their weights, specifications, inspection evidence and prices must stay on their stated product basis.

What makes a cashew kernel 'whole' under UNECE DDP-17?

More than seven eighths of the kernel must remain intact in its characteristic shape. Butts, splits and pieces are separate broken styles with their own definitions.

What does the 3.934839 million metric ton figure represent?

It is the 2023 world production quantity for cashew nuts in shell reported in the Codex 2026 project document from FAOSTAT. It is a dated crop observation, not a current kernel offer or delivered price.

Which fields make physical cashew offers comparable?

In-shell or kernel basis, whole or broken style, size or count, class and color, defects and tolerances, moisture and test method, food-safety and aflatoxin evidence, crop and processing dates, origin, processor and lot, package and net weight, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.