Vietnam’s cashew industry moves to maintain world's top spot

In recent years, Vietnam's turnover from cashew nut exports has consistently held the top position in the world, with an annual value of approximately 3 billion USD.

Vietnam’s cashew industry moves to maintain world's top spot -0
Nguồn: nongnghiep.vn

Considered a leading cashew nut producer of the world, but Vietnam is facing numerous opportunities and challenges, particularly amidst fierce competition from Cambodia and several African nations.

Challenges facing "billion-dollar” trees

According to experts, the development of cashew trees in Vietnam in general and in the "cashew capital" of Binh Phuoc in particular still sees ample room for growth intertwined with challenges.

The industry is currently exposed to natural disasters and climate change risks, said Tran Cong Khanh, Director of the Centre for Cashew Research and Development under the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology.

Tough competition has also posed a considerable concern, as countries with large land reserves like Cambodia as well as Western and Eastern African nations are vigorously developing cashew cultivation and processing for exports.

The southern province of Binh Phuoc is viewed as the "cashew capital" of Vietnam, occupying over 50% of the country's cashew cultivation area and production.

According to Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People's Committee Tran Tuyet Minh, Binh Phuoc has over 152,000ha of cashew, yielding around 170,000 tonnes per year. Its natural conditions, combined with the adoption of advanced agricultural techniques, have helped increase the productivity of cashew trees in the province.

Binh Phuoc now houses 1,416 cashew nut processing facilities – the largest number in the country - with the processing industry contributing between 27% and 45% to the province's total annual export revenue.

In 2022, the province’s cashew exports topped 1.04 billion USD. After processing, Binh Phuoc's cashew products are exported to over 100 countries and territories worldwide, including Europe, the US, Japan, Australia, and China, comprising approximately 70% of the global cashew export market share. This industry provides regular jobs for around 80,000 workers in processing facilities and in cashew orchards.

However, local raw materials have met only about 30% of the province's processing capacity while the remaining 70% has relied on raw cashew nuts imported from Indonesia, Cambodia, and Africa.

Despite being recognised as a leading global producer of cashew nuts, the cashew industry in Vietnam is facing various challenges and opportunities. These challenges include potential impact of natural disasters and climate change, as well as tough competition from countries such as Cambodia and several African nations.

Changing production mindsets

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) Bach Khanh Nhut assessed that the Vietnamese cashew industry has made significant progress over the pas more than four decades. Starting from learning and adopting foreign processing technology, Vietnam has now become a technological leader in the field and topped the world in cashew nut exports.

However, Vietnam only accounts for 30% of the global cashew value chain, with the remaining value belonging to distributors and international roasting and frying firms.

"It's paradoxical that while Vietnam is the world's largest exporter of cashew nuts, in recent years, the import of cashew nuts into Vietnam for additional processing and re-export has increased rapidly. This is the consequence of allowing the import of cashew nuts into Vietnam without applying protective measures for the domestic cashew processing industry," said Nhut.

He suggested that there should be a shift towards deep processing with diverse products that meet the various needs and preferences of end consumers.

Additionally, Khanh, Director of the Centre for Cashew Research and Development, recommended the application of advanced technology, biotechnology, organic farming, and green agriculture in cashew cultivation. It is crucial to promote the adoption of production in accordance with safety standards such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP. Implementing cohesive solutions regarding varieties, cultivation techniques, and investment in deep cultivation is necessary to ensure the productivity and quality of agricultural raw materials.

In March 2018, the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology officially granted an unlimited validity certificate for the geographical indication "Hat dieu Binh Phuoc" (Binh Phuoc Cashew Nuts) across the entire territory of Vietnam, opening up significant opportunities for the industry.

Economy

Hue required to become modern, smart centrally-run city
Economy

Hue required to become modern, smart centrally-run city

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man attended a ceremony on December 29 evening to announce the NA's resolution on the establishment of the centrally-run city of Hue and the NA Standing Committee's resolution on the arrangement of its district- and commune-level administrative units for the 2023 - 2025 period.

Aquatic exports hit 10 billion USD
Economy

Aquatic exports hit 10 billion USD

Vietnam's aquatic exports reached 10 billion USD in 2024, driven by shrimp and pangasius, despite challenges related to markets, logistics, and raw materials, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said on December 23.

Vietnam's potential promoted to Mexican businesses
Economy

Vietnam's potential promoted to Mexican businesses

A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico led by Ambassador-Designate Nguyen Van Hai has paid a working trip to Guanajuato state to explore opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and Mexico, as well as between Vietnamese localities and Guanajuato. ​

Cuban President pledges support for Vietnamese investors
Economy

Cuban President pledges support for Vietnamese investors

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has reaffirmed his commitment to welcoming and supporting Vietnamese investors, while receiving Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the GELEX Group and Chairman of the Board of Viglacera Corporation, in Havana recently.

1.2-billion-USD MoU signed to build VinFast charging stations in Indonesia
Economy

1.2-billion-USD MoU signed to build VinFast charging stations in Indonesia

V-GREEN, a private firm owned by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, and Prime Group, a multi-sector conglomerate, on December 11 announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a network of charging stations for VinFast electric vehicles (EVs) in Indonesia, with a projected total investment of up to 1.2 billion USD.