There is no single “cashew season” — harvest runs at different times by region, which keeps global raw-nut (RCN) supply available almost year-round. Broadly, the northern-hemisphere origins harvest early in the calendar year: India ~February–May, West Africa ~February–May/June, and Vietnam ~February–June (peak March–April). The later origins pick in the second half: East Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique) ~October–January, and Brazil later in the year. This staggering lets processors source across origins to stay fed between local crops, and it drives the seasonal price cycle. This page gives the harvest calendar by region.
What Determines Cashew Season
Cashew flowers and fruits in the dry season and is harvested as the mature nuts drop. Because that dry window falls at different times north and south of the equator, each origin has its own harvest months. Hemisphere and monsoon timing, not the crop itself, set the calendar.
Season by Region
| Region | Harvest months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India | Jan–June (main Feb–May) | West coast earlier, eastern states later |
| West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria) | Feb–May/June | Before the rains |
| Vietnam / SE Asia | Feb–June (peak Mar–Apr) | Nuts ripen and drop from Feb |
| East Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique) | Oct–Jan (peak Oct–Dec) | Southern-hemisphere timing |
| Brazil (Northeast) | Second half of year | Native origin; regional peaks |
India
India’s harvest spans January to June by region — the western coastal states (Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala) start around January, while eastern states (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh) begin later, around March–April, as winter departs.
West Africa
Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria harvest roughly February to May/June, ahead of the rainy season, with mature nuts plucked from the fallen apples. This is the world’s largest raw-nut supply window — see West Africa cashew processing.
East Africa
Tanzania and Mozambique gather their main crop from about October into January, when nuts mature and separate from the apples — the opposite half of the year to West Africa, which helps balance global supply.
Vietnam & SE Asia
Vietnamese cashews are harvested February to June before the rains, peaking in March–April, with farmers collecting fallen apples daily. Vietnam also imports African RCN to keep its large processing base running year-round.
Brazil & South America
As the crop’s native home, Brazil harvests over a long window with regional peaks, concentrated in the northeastern states. Its later timing adds to global availability outside the northern-hemisphere season.
How Season Affects RCN Price & Sourcing
Prices ease at peak harvest, when supply is high, and firm in the off-season. Processors diversify sourcing across origins and stagger imports to keep buffer stock, and use forward contracts to secure supply at steadier rates. As a rule, African nuts trade cheaper than better-graded Indian, Vietnamese or Brazilian nuts, though the exact spread moves with each season. For the pre-harvest biology, see cashew before harvest; for origins, cashew nut producing countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is cashew season? It varies by origin: India and West Africa harvest roughly February–May, Vietnam February–June, East Africa October–January, and Brazil later in the year — so raw cashews are available somewhere almost year-round.
When is cashew harvested in India? From about January to June depending on region — the western coastal states begin around January, the eastern states around March–April, with the main season February–May.
When is West Africa cashew season? Roughly February to May or June, before the rainy season, across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria.
Are cashews available year-round? Effectively yes. Because origins harvest at different times — northern-hemisphere early in the year, East Africa and Brazil later — processors can source raw nuts across the calendar.