Saudi Arabia imports a great number of cashew nuts yearly. High urbanization in the middle Eastern country is pushing up cashew consumption. Over 80% of Saudis have put up their homes in cities and towns with a big number of them living in and around the capital city, Riyadh.
Actually, the average daily consumption of all kinds of tree nuts in Saudi Arabia is 0.3g. This is according to a household survey done by the Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS). The survey also indicates that consumption of healthy foods including nuts is slowly going up.
Cashew Nuts in Saudi Arabia
Cashew nuts are becoming more sought-after in Saudi Arabia. They are the second most consumed tree nuts after almonds. The per capita consumption inched up from 0.2kg in 2017 to 0.3kg in 2021 according to the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC).
Healthy snacks continue to rise in popularity among Saudis. Consumers in the fifth most populous country in the Middle East are changing their preferences in snacks to include highly nutritional options. This is because more of them are becoming aware of the nutritional value cashew nuts offer.
The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia is promoting a shift to healthier diet so as to improve eating habits in the kingdom. As a result, in 2019, it gave a directive to restaurants to include calorie information on menus. Now, Saudi consumers can also find cashews in restaurants that offer healthier alternatives to various traditional Saudi food.
Cashew in Saudi Arabia
In view of the fact that there is no cashew production in Saudi Arabia, imported cashews are available for most part of the year. In 2021, Saudi Arabia shipped in nearly 11,500 tonnes of cashew nuts. It is an increase of 10% from the previous year. This data includes both raw cashew nuts (in-shell) and shelled cashews.
Saudi Arabia is a huge net importer of shelled cashew nuts. Over the last decade, cashew imports in Saudi Arabia have recorded growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2018 to 2019 at 19%. The peak volume was in the year 2021 at 11,376 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of cashew nuts in Saudi Arabia between 2012 and 2021
Importing Cashew Nuts in Saudi Arabia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import cashews into Saudi Arabia
Cashew Supplying Countries to Saudi Arabia
The cashew import market in Saudi Arabia is dominated by India. It has gained in market share from exporting cashews worth 32 million US Dollars to reach 42 million US Dollars. The Saudi cashew market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key cashew supplying countries to Saudi Arabia are:
- Vietnam
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Tanzania
- Ivory Coast
It imports cashews in smaller volumes from countries like:
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Kuwait
Saudi Arabia brings cashews from abroad through its main airport. Cashews get in the country as air freight by way of King Abdulaziz International Airport. The airport has a modern cargo terminal.
The other way cashews enter Saudi Arabia is through its main commercial sea port. Cashews get into the country as sea freight by way of Jeddah Islamic Port. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Cashew Suppliers in Saudi Arabia
Cashew importers in Saudi Arabia must follow these procedures for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Have an import permit from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
- Have a Phytosanitary certificate from the Agricultural Authority of the exporting country
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Commercial invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
Here is a top cashew exporter in Kenya
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of cashew nuts and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of raw cashew nuts and shelled cashews. We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.