Vietnam’s exports of processed cashew kernels in January reached 65,000 tons, valued at $434 million.
This represents a sharp increase of 73.6% in volume and 70.1% in value compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The primary driver for this growth was the high demand during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), particularly in the Chinese market, where partners significantly increased imports of processed cashews for holiday consumption.
China continued to be the largest market for Vietnamese cashews in the first month of the year, posting a 49.4% year-on-year growth rate and accounting for 21.3% of Vietnam's total cashew export value. The United States followed as the second-largest consumer.
The year 2025 marked a major milestone for the industry as export turnover hit $5.2 billion. This achievement made cashews the third Vietnamese agricultural product to surpass the $5 billion mark in a single year, following fruit and vegetables, and coffee. During that year, the industry imported over 2.9 million tons of raw cashews valued at $4.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of more than $700 million.
Notably, 2025 also marked the first time China overtook the US to become Vietnam’s largest cashew export market, with turnover reaching $1.115 billion. The US ranked second at $975 million, followed by the Netherlands at $495 million.
According to Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS), the surge in exports to China was driven by the country’s economic recovery, a rising demand for health-conscious food products, and the proactive efforts of Vietnamese enterprises to meet stricter partner standards. Conversely, exports to the US in 2025 saw a decline of 26% in volume and 17% in value compared to 2024, reflecting ongoing challenges in this traditional market.
However, U.S. President Donald Trump's decision of November 14, 2025 to remove tariffs on more than 200 food items, including cashews, is expected to be a vital catalyst for the recovery of Vietnam's cashew export to the US market throughout 2026.
Google translate