Thailand imports a sizeable amount of cashew nuts annually. Rapid urbanization in the Southeast Asian country is boosting cashew consumption. Over 50% of Thai people dwell in towns and cities with a large number of them dwelling in the area of the capital city, Bangkok.
Cashew nuts in Thailand are often included in the mid-priced segment. Despite the fact that their price is nearly three times that of low-priced nuts, they are flying off shelves. Thai consumers consider cashews to have superior taste to low-cost nuts like peanuts. On the contrary, the price of cashew nuts in Thailand is more competitive than almonds, walnuts or macadamia nuts.
Cashew Nuts in Thailand
Cashew nuts have the largest market share of all tree nuts sold in Thailand. They are the most consumed tree nuts in the country due to their popularity as snack nuts. The per capita consumption moved up from 0.1kg in 2017 to 0.2kg in 2021 according to the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC).
It is estimated that over 90% of nuts eaten in Thailand are cashews. In fact, cashews are more familiar to Thai people than Brazil nuts. In addition, majority of Thai people prefer cashew nuts to pecans because of taste.
Not only is Thailand a cashew producing country, it is also surrounded by other cashew producing countries. It is bordered by Myanmar to the west, Laos to the north and east and Cambodia to the southeast. As a result, cashew nuts are a well-known product among Thai people.
Thailand is near another major cashew producing country. Actually, it takes only four days by sea for cashews to reach Thailand from Vietnam. While cashews processed in Vietnam and transported by air, take about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Thailand.
Cashew Nut Thailand
Given that cashew production in Thailand can’t meet local demand, imported cashews are available for most part of the year. In 2022, Thailand shipped in nearly 12,000 tonnes of cashew nuts. It is a slight increase of 4% from the previous year. This data includes both raw cashew nuts (in-shell) and shelled cashews.
Thailand imports shelled cashew nuts in bulk. Over the last decade, cashew imports in Thailand have enjoyed continued growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2016 to 2017 at 19%. The peak volume was in the year 2022 at 11,859 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of cashew nuts in Thailand between 2013 and 2022
Importing Cashew Nuts in Thailand
Here is a step by step guide on how to import cashews into Thailand
Cashew Supplying Countries to Thailand
The cashew import market in Thailand is dominated by Vietnam. It has gained in market share from exporting cashews worth 41 million US Dollars to reach 49 million US Dollars. The Thai cashew market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key cashew supplying countries to Thailand are:
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Myanmar
- Laos
- India
Thailand brings cashews from abroad through its main airport. Cashews get in the country as air freight by way of Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The airport has a modern cargo terminal.
The other way cashews enter Thailand is through its main commercial sea port. Cashews get into the country as sea freight by way of Bangkok Port. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Cashew Suppliers in Thailand
Cashew importers in Thailand must follow these procedures for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Have an import license from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA)
- 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.