Vietnam’s two-month cashew exports to US up

• Vietnam targets 450,000 tons in cashew nut export volume this year
• Forecast rise in world cashew nut prices brings hope to domestic processors
• Vietnam retains its position as world’s leading cashew exporter
• Vietnam to import 300,000 tonnes of raw cashew

Vietnam’s cashew exports to the US in the first two months of the year rose by 21 percent in volume to 17,900 tonnes and 3.6 percent in value to 126.2 million USD year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs.

The US, along with the Netherlands and China, remained the top three largest cashew export markets for Vietnam.

The department said the country exported a total 50,700 tonnes of cashew nuts in the period, a year on year increase of 6.5 percent, but value fell 8.4 percent to about 357 million USD. 

The average export price of cashew nuts in the first two months decreased by 14 percent over the same period last year to 7,046 USD per tonne, it said.

For February alone, total cashew exports reached 26,100 tonnes, earning 185.2 million USD. This marked a surge of 5.7 percent in volume and 7.3 percent in value month-on-month, and 76.8 percent and 50.6 percent, respectively, year-on-year.

In February, Vietnam saw growth in cashew exports to many markets, including the US, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Canada, Thailand, Australia and Saudi Arabia, but exports to China fell sharply due to low demand during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Vietnam's cashew industry was expected to face difficulties in export during the first half this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and oversupply, said the Vietnam Cashew Association.

By mid-March, the domestic price of raw cashew nuts had fallen 6,000 VND per kilo compared to the end of February.

The association said the COVID-19 pandemic posed many risks and unpredictable fluctuations on the cashew market at home and abroad.

The cashew harvest has arrived in Vietnam, Cambodia and West Africa, with countries relying on high yields, especially Cambodia and the Ivory Coast.

Vietnam is also expected to have high cashew output this year, which will likely push prices down, said the association.

It has recommended local cashew export processing enterprises to monitor the market closely to make suitable production and business plans this year, including buying raw cashew, selling processed cashew, and storing raw materials and finished products.

Vietnam has targeted total export value of cashew at 4 billion USD this year.