This is a curated entry point to everything that matters about cashew kernels — how quality and yield are measured, how grades and prices work, and what moves the market — with signposts to the detailed pages. The whole picture in four lines: grades run W180 (largest) to W500 by count per pound; recovery is about 22–24% of raw-nut weight, or a KOR in pounds per 80 kg bag; W320 is the benchmark grade and W240 the premium; and prices track the raw-nut crop, the US dollar and demand. Use the sections below, and the navigation table, to jump to the depth you need.
Kernels at a Glance
- What a kernel is — the edible white seed recovered after shelling and peeling; see cashew kernels.
- Yield — about 22–24% of raw-nut weight becomes kernel (a ~4:1 ratio).
- Grades — white wholes W180–W500, plus scorched, dessert and broken grades.
- Benchmark — W320 is the most-traded grade; W240 is the larger premium.
- Price — set by grade, then moved by crop size, currency, freight and demand.
Quality & Yield
Quality is measured before the kernel is even made: buyers price raw nuts by outturn (KOR) — pounds of usable kernel per 80 kg bag — and planners use the RCN-to-kernel ratio (~22–24%). See the outturn calculation formula (with a live calculator) and the raw cashew nut to kernel ratio, and how to lift both in yield optimisation.
Understanding Grades & Classification
Kernels are graded by colour, size and wholeness. The full chart is on cashew grades; the coding logic and standards behind it on cashew classification; and the two headline grades on W320 and W240.
Price & Market Signals
Kernel prices are set by grade and moved by the crop, the dollar and demand — the drivers are on cashew kernels price per kg, with Vietnam-specific pricing on Vietnam cashew nut prices.
Standards & Trade
Contracts reference the AFI specification for quality, and shipments are classified under HS codes (0801.32 kernels, 0801.31 RCN). Together they govern how a lot is described and cleared.
Where to Go Next
| Topic | One-line insight | Deep dive |
|---|---|---|
| Yield / outturn | KOR = usable kernel lbs per 80 kg bag | Outturn formula |
| Recovery ratio | ~22–24% of RCN weight becomes kernel | RCN-to-kernel ratio |
| Grades | W180–W500 by count/lb, plus brokens | Cashew grades |
| Classification | The colour/size/wholeness coding logic | Classification |
| Benchmark grade | W320, most traded | W320 |
| Premium grade | W240, larger and pricier | W240 |
| Price | Set by grade, moved by crop and USD | Price per kg |
| Standards | AFI quality spec | AFI specs |
| Trade codes | HS 0801.32 / 0801.31 | HS code |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know before buying cashew kernels? Know the grade you need (size and colour), whether the quote is wholesale or retail, and the quality standard it references (usually AFI). Grade sets most of the price; the rest moves with the crop and currency.
How is cashew kernel quality measured? For raw nuts, by outturn (KOR) in pounds per 80 kg bag and defect rate; for finished kernels, by grade (count per pound, colour, wholeness), moisture (~5% max) and defect limits under standards like AFI.
Which cashew grade should I buy? W320 is the best all-round value and the benchmark; W240 and larger for premium and gifting; splits and pieces for cooking and ingredients where wholeness does not matter.
What affects cashew kernel prices? Grade first, then the size of the raw-nut crop, the US dollar, freight, seasonal demand, and processing volumes in Vietnam and India.