The trend of importing high-end cashew nut products is increasing rapidly in the United States. Vietnam remained the largest supplier of cashew nuts to the United States in the first 4 months of this year, but the country is promoting supply diversification, gradually reducing dependence on Asian markets.
Statistics from the US International Trade Commission said that in the first 4 months of 2025, the United States imported 53.73 thousand tons of cashew nuts (HS: 080131, 080132, 2008191040), worth 382.93 million USD, down 11.4% in volume, but up 12.6% in value over the same period in 2024. In which, Vietnam, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Thailand and India are the 5 largest markets supplying cashew nuts to the United States.
According to the Import and Export Department, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Center for Industry and Trade Information, the average price of cashew nut imports into the United States will continue to increase sharply in the first months of 2025, reaching the highest level in April 2025 (reaching 7,335 USD/ton), this is the highest price in the past 3 years. shows that the trend of importing high-end cashew nut products is increasing rapidly in the United States. Generally, in the first 4 months of 2025, the average import price of cashew nuts into the United States will reach 7,127 USD/ton, up 27% over the same period in 2024.
Vietnam continues to be the largest supplier of cashew nuts to the United States
In terms of supply structure, in the first 4 months of 2025, the United States imports cashew nuts from 29 countries and territories around the world. In particular, Vietnam is still the largest supplier of cashew nuts to the United States.
In the first 4 months of 2025, the United States imported cashew nuts from Vietnam reached 46.25 thousand tons, with a value of 324.94 million USD, down 12.4% in volume, but up 13% in value over the same period in 2024. The average price of cashew nuts imported from Vietnam will reach 7,025 USD/ton, up 29% over the same period in 2024, higher than the average import from all markets. Vietnam's cashew nut market share accounts for 86.08% in volume and 84.86% in value in total cashew nut imports of the United States in the first 4 months of 2025.
African countries such as Ivory Coast, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria all have a significant presence on the list of cashew nut suppliers to the United States. In which, Ivory Coast had the strongest growth, reaching 2.75 thousand tons, worth 17 million USD, up 28.1% in volume and 57.3% in value over the same period in 2024. The average price of cashew nuts imported from Ivory Coast will reach 6,182 USD/ton, up 22.7% over the same period in 2024. Ivory Coast's cashew nut market share accounts for 5.12% in volume and 4.44% in value in total US cashew nut imports in the first 4 months of 2025, showing the trend of diversifying the supply of US importers, especially with more competitively priced items.
Cashew nut imports from Brazil to the US market also recorded the strongest growth rate among the main markets: up 38.6% in volume and up 53.5% in value, reaching more than 1,268 tons and nearly 8 million USD, with an average import price of 6,271 USD/ton.
Imports from Thailand also increased sharply in value (up 43.8%) and the average import price reached 12,796 USD/ton - the highest among all markets, showing that the country is focused on the high-end segment.
However, cashew nut imports from some African suppliers such as Nigeria, Ghana and Benin recorded a sharp decline, possibly due to seasonality, logistics or unstable quality.
The United States tends to increase imports of processed and convenient products
In terms of import types, in the first 4 months of 2025, the United States will mainly import fresh or dried cashew nuts (HS 080132) and processed cashew nuts (HS 2008191040).
The United States imports the most fresh or dried cashew nuts, peeled, reaching 37.99 thousand tons, with a value of 258.39 million USD, down 20.4% in volume, but up 2.1% in value over the same period in 2024. Vietnam, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Thailand, and Benin are the 5 largest markets that supply fresh or dried, shelled cashews to the United States. Except for Vietnam and Benin, the amount of fresh or dried cashew nuts imported by the United States from the rest of the markets increased sharply compared to the same period in 2024.
Next, in the first 4 months of 2025, the United States imported 15.67 thousand tons of processed cashew nuts, with a value of 124.09 million USD, up 21.6% in volume and 42.4% in value over the same period in 2024. In particular, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Canada are the largest markets supplying processed cashew nuts to the United States.
Except for India and Canada, U.S. imports of processed cashew nuts from the rest of the markets all increased over the same period in 2024.
Statistics show that the United States is tending to increase imports of processed products, reflecting the increasing consumer demand for convenient, high-quality products. The United States is diversifying its supply, gradually reducing its dependence on Asian markets. Ivory Coast and Brazil, which are promoting deep processing and quality improvement, are increasingly competitive in the cashew nut market in the United States.
With the trend of declining import volumes, exporting countries, especially Vietnam, need to upgrade products, invest in processing, diversify designs and packaging specifications; improving price and logistics competitiveness, in the context of rising transportation costs and great global trade pressures; focusing on the high-end consumer group, especially in supermarket chains, online retail channels and organic food sales systems in the United States.
