Raw cashew nut (RCN)

What it is

Cashew in shell. Units roast or steam it, cut the shell, peel and grade the kernels; the shell gives CNSL.

RCN by outturn (lbs of kernel per 80 kg bag) and nut countKernel grades W180, W240, W320, W450, splits and pieces

Where India produces it

1. Maharashtra

   2023-24: 197.3 thousand tonnes

2. Andhra Pradesh

   2023-24: 133.8 thousand tonnes

3. Odisha

   2023-24: 126.13 thousand tonnes

4. Tamil Nadu

   2023-24: 87.07 thousand tonnes

5. Karnataka

   2023-24: 79.85 thousand tonnes

Where imports come from

Processors depend heavily on African RCN: India imported 1,255.11 thousand tonnes of cashew in 2023-24 against home output of 794.91 thousand tonnes.

• Tanzania — US$ 345.86 million imported under HS 0801 in 2024-25
• Togo — US$ 226.35 million imported under HS 0801 in 2024-25
• Ghana — US$ 199.93 million imported under HS 0801 in 2024-25
• Guinea-Bissau — US$ 180.68 million imported under HS 0801 in 2024-25
• Côte d'Ivoire — US$ 175.97 million imported under HS 0801 in 2024-25

Rules before you buy or sell

• Imports of seeds, grain and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate and clearance under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.
• Import and export are governed by the ITC(HS) policy; check the current DGFT notification before you sign a contract, because policy for farm goods changes often.
• Kernel exporters register with the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI).
• FSSAI licence or registration is needed to process, pack, store or sell it as food (Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006).

Storage and handling

Dry RCN keeps about a year in jute bags in a dry godown; kernels are vacuum- or CO2-flushed packed.

Businesses that use it

Cashew Nut Processing →Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) →Cashew Apple Syrup →Cashew and Coconut Feni Distillery →