Cashew nut exports surged in December 2025, pushing total export turnover for the year past USD 5 billion for the first time. In this context, China emerged as the leading import market of Vietnamese cashew kernels.
Based on the results achieved in 2025, cashew nuts have become Vietnam’s fourth agricultural product. This places them after fruits and vegetables, rice, and coffee. Vietnamese cashew kernels surpassed USD 5 billion in export value within a single year.
Notably, due to a sharp decline in rice exports, cashew nuts rose to third place among Vietnam’s key agricultural export commodities. They ranked only behind coffee at USD 8.9 billion and fruits and vegetables at USD 8.56 billion.
Beyond setting a new record in export value, Vietnam’s cashew nut exports in 2025 also reached an all-time high in volume. The total reached 766,585 tons, up 5.7% compared with 2024.
During the year, Vietnam imported more than 2.9 million tons of raw cashew nuts, valued at approximately USD 4.5 billion. At the same time, the country recorded a trade surplus of over USD 700 million.
Vietnamese cashew kernels
China surpassed the United States for the first time to become Vietnam’s largest cashew nut import market. Specifically, the export value of Vietnamese cashew kernels to China reached USD 1.115 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, the United States slipped to second place with USD 975 million. Meanwhile the Netherlands ranked third at USD 495 million.
Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut is the Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS). He said that cashew exports to China grew rapidly thanks to the country’s economic recovery. He added that rising demand for health-oriented agricultural products contributed significantly to this growth. In addition, Vietnamese enterprises’ improved ability to meet market requirements also played an important role.
By contrast, cashew exports to the United States declined markedly. This was because from April 2025, many importers temporarily halted purchases due to concerns over reciprocal tariff risks when shipments arrive during the period when the policy takes effect.
For more than a decade, the U.S. had consistently been Vietnam’s largest cashew consumption market. During this period, it typically accounted for over 20% of the total export volume. This figure reached nearly 27% in 2024 alone.
As a result, issues related to reciprocal tariffs are expected to have a significant impact on cashew exports to this market.
In this context, promoting exports of processed cashew products is seen as a key direction. This is because U.S. companies are reducing purchases of raw cashew kernels but increasing imports of ready-to-eat processed products. Vietnam, together with India, Thailand, and Canada, are the main suppliers to this market.
Vietnamese source: https://thesaigontimes.vn/vuot-my-trung-quoc-tro-thanh-thi-truong-tieu-thu-hat-dieu-lon-nhat-cua-viet-nam/