Vietnam’s cashew industry has consistently maintained its position as the world’s leading processor and exporter of cashew products. However, to sustain long-term growth, the industry must shift from exporting raw products to expanding deep processing. This will enhance the value of Vietnamese cashew products in international markets.
The 2026 Golden Cashew Festival in Đồng Nai City once again provided an opportunity for experts to assess the overall performance of Vietnam’s billion-dollar cashew industry. With nearly 176,000 hectares of cashew plantations—accounting for more than 50% of the country’s total cashew-growing area—Đồng Nai serves as the nation’s cashew capital. Key production areas include Đồng Tâm, Đắk Ơ, Đắk Nhau, Bù Đăng, Phú Nghĩa, Xuân Lộc, and Định Quán. The industry not only provides employment for tens of thousands of workers but has also become a strategic export sector for both the province and Vietnam as a whole.
Vietnam has maintained its position as the world’s leading processor and exporter of cashew kernels for 19 consecutive years. In 2025, the industry’s total export value exceeded USD 5.4 billion, with products reaching more than 112 countries and territories and accounting for over 80% of the global market share. During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam exported 217,000 tonnes of cashew kernels worth nearly USD 1.5 billion. This represented increases of almost 9% in volume and 10% in value compared with the same period in 2025. These figures highlight the industry’s strong production capacity and remarkable resilience amid global market fluctuations.
Đồng Nai is currently home to 2,793 enterprises and facilities engaged in purchasing, primary processing, and processing cashew nuts. The province also has 63 OCOP products made from cashews, produced by 37 entities, including seven five-star OCOP products. Despite these achievements, the industry continues to face several challenges, including volatile market prices, a relatively low proportion of deep-processed products, and a shortage of internationally recognized brands. Trade promotion and marketing activities have yet to fully reflect the sector’s considerable potential. This underscores the need for more transformative strategies.
To address these challenges, the cashew industry must shift its focus from expanding production volume to improving product quality and strengthening brand value. The adoption of modern technology should go beyond primary processing and place greater emphasis on deep processing to enhance competitiveness and create higher-value products. At the same time, businesses need to take a more proactive approach to market research while developing integrated and sustainable value chains. This transformation is widely regarded as the essential path for Vietnamese cashew products to maintain their leading position in the global agricultural marketplace in the years ahead.
Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, Vice Chairman of the Đồng Nai City People’s Committee, affirmed that the festival plays a meaningful role in promoting the cashew brand, honoring cashew growers and processors, and inspiring efforts to elevate Vietnamese cashew products in international markets. He emphasized that close cooperation among the government, farmers, scientists, and businesses is essential. Such a partnership will help build a modern and sustainable value chain. It will also enable the industry to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of global export markets during the 2026–2030 period.
According to Lê Thị Ánh Tuyết, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, discussions at the conference highlighted the considerable room for further growth in Đồng Nai’s cashew industry. She noted that achieving sustainable development in an increasingly integrated global economy will require greater adoption of science, technology, and digital transformation in both cultivation and processing. She also proposed developing the Đồng Nai cashew brand as a modern, green, and sustainable brand. It should reflect not only advanced production technologies but also the cultural heritage associated with cashew cultivation.
Experts and cooperatives participating in the discussions also proposed measures to increase value by improving varieties and cultivation practices. Investment in deep-processing technologies to fully utilize fresh cashew apples, kernels, and shells was identified as a key driver of the circular economy. Many businesses have already begun upgrading to modern processing lines. They are gradually replacing manual operations to improve productivity and meet higher food safety and hygiene standards for export markets.
Support from financial institutions has also become an important source of capital, enabling businesses to expand production, modernize factories, and invest in advanced technologies. As companies increase their investment in deep processing, the value added to cashew products will be significantly higher than that generated by exporting raw materials alone. This transformation not only improves profitability but also provides farmers with greater confidence to maintain production and ensure a stable supply of raw materials. These efforts are gradually strengthening the reputation of Vietnamese cashew products through a more professional and sustainable development model.
The future of Vietnam’s cashew industry will depend on the ability of all stakeholders across the value chain to adapt to changing market conditions and implement coordinated development strategies. Expanding deep processing, together with well-planned trade promotion activities, will enable Vietnamese cashew products to reach more international markets and capture greater value. With the commitment of government agencies and the continued efforts of businesses and farmers, Đồng Nai is expected to further reinforce its position as Vietnam’s cashew capital. It will also make an important contribution to the country’s agricultural development.
Vietnamese source: https://thuonghieusanpham.vn/hat-dieu-viet-nam-phat-trien-gia-tri-theo-chuoi-che-bien-sau
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