Vietnam sets sights on US$4.5B cashew export target for 2025 

VIETNAM – Vietnam is targeting US$4.5 billion in cashew exports in 2025, a 2.7% rise from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.  

To meet this goal, the industry must generate approximately US$2.2 billion in the second half of the year. 

In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam exported 346,800 tons of cashews, earning US$2.36 billion. This represented a 2.7% decline in export volume but a 20.4% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. The growth in export value was largely driven by a significant rise in average prices. 

The average export price of cashews during the first half of the year stood at over US$6,805 per ton, reflecting a 23.8% increase from the corresponding period in 2024. This price surge helped offset the drop in shipment volumes and supported overall revenue growth. 

China, the United States, and the Netherlands continued to be Vietnam’s top cashew markets, accounting for 22%, 21.6%, and 8.4% of total export value, respectively. 

Revenues from exports to China rose by 41.2%, while the U.S. saw a marginal increase of 0.1%, and the Netherlands recorded a 22.4% rise year-on-year. 

To sustain momentum, the ministry is encouraging cashew exporters to explore emerging markets, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, both showing strong demand. The European Union, now the third-largest cashew market for Vietnam, has also shown steady growth. 

Adding to the sector’s competitiveness, raw cashew prices have dropped from US$1,450 to US$1,350 per ton. This provides cost advantages for manufacturers ahead of the peak export season, driven by global festivals and the Lunar New Year. 

The Vietnam Cashew Association forecasts that the global cashew market will grow at an average annual rate of 4.6% from 2022 to 2027. 

Meanwhile, Cambodia reported cashew nut exports worth US$753.21 million in the first half of 2025, marking a 56.67% increase year-on-year.  

The Cambodian government is also pushing for more investment in processing to boost the value chain of its cashew industry. 

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