Vietnam is the world’s largest cashew processor and kernel exporter, and a major importer of African raw cashew nuts (RCN), so Vietnamese prices effectively set the global benchmark. Buyers track two price types: kernel prices by grade — W320 (the benchmark), W240, and others, quoted in USD per kg or lb — and RCN prices in USD per tonne, driven mainly by the African harvest and by outturn. Both move with harvest timing, currency and demand, so this page explains the drivers rather than quoting a figure that dates quickly — for a live number, request a current quote.
Vietnam’s Role in the Cashew Market
Vietnam processes and exports hundreds of thousands of tonnes of kernels a year, well beyond its own crop, by importing large volumes of African RCN and shelling it on highly automated lines. That scale makes Vietnamese kernel prices the reference the wider market watches — see cashew nut producing countries and cashew machines for Vietnam.
Kernel Prices by Grade
Grade sets the ladder: larger whole grades (W240) trade above the benchmark W320, which trades above smaller wholes (W450) and well above broken grades. The mechanics are the same worldwide — see cashew kernels price per kg.
| Type | Example | Price driver |
|---|---|---|
| Large whole | W240 | Scarcity, size premium |
| Benchmark whole | W320 | The reference price |
| Smaller whole | W450 | Below W320 |
| Broken | Splits, pieces | Discount to wholes |
| Raw nut | RCN (USD/t) | African crop, outturn |
Indicative only — Vietnamese kernel and RCN prices change daily; confirm the current market.
Raw Cashew Nut (RCN) Prices
Vietnam’s RCN price is set largely by the African harvest it depends on and by outturn (KOR) — higher-outturn lots command more per tonne. When the African crop is large, RCN eases; a short crop firms it. See the outturn formula.
What Moves Vietnam Cashew Prices
The main forces: the size and timing of the African RCN harvest, the US dollar (trade is dollar-denominated), freight, and seasonal demand from big buyers (the US, EU, China). Festival and year-end buying tends to firm kernel prices.
How Prices Compare Globally
Because Vietnam is the largest exporter, its kernel prices anchor the global market, with India the other major processing benchmark. For the general price mechanics and how to read a quote, see cashew kernels price per kg. For kernel supply or machinery, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a kg of cashew in Vietnam? It depends on grade and whether the quote is wholesale or retail, and it changes daily. Whole white grades trade above broken grades, with W240 above the benchmark W320 — confirm a current quote rather than relying on a dated figure.
Why is Vietnam the biggest cashew exporter? It built a large, highly automated processing industry and imports African raw nuts to keep it running year-round, letting it out-process every other country and lead global kernel exports.
Does Vietnam grow or import its cashews? Both. Vietnam grows a substantial crop but imports far more raw cashew — mainly from Africa — to feed its processing industry, making it the world’s top RCN importer as well as top kernel exporter.
What is the price of raw cashew nuts in Vietnam? RCN is quoted in USD per tonne and set by the African harvest and the lot’s outturn (KOR). It moves with crop size, currency and demand, so a current quote is the only reliable figure.