The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has hot and dry summers with mild winters which are not suitable for cashew cultivation. The country also has saline and sandy soils that do not favor the growth of cashew nuts. The best condition for cashew cultivation is a hot and wet climate. Therefore, UAE heavily depends on importing cashews in order to satisfy the growing demand.
Cashews are used as an ingredient in several Emirati dishes and are also consumed as snacks. You can purchase cashews from various outlets in the country such as general stores, neighborhood supermarkets, specialty food stores and mass food stores.
Cashews Price in UAE
Imports of cashews in the UAE were worth about 200 million US Dollars in 2022. This was an increase from the previous year and another record high value. The sharpest climb was from 2020 to 2021 when the import values rose from about 111 million US Dollars to about 172 million US Dollars.
- Here are the total values in import of cashews in UAE between 2013 and 2022.
Cashew Nut Price per kg in UAE
The cost of a kilo of cashews in UAE can be between 19 AED (5 US Dollars) and 30 AED (US 9 Dollars). This is based on average import price per kg. the whole price can go as high as 53 AED (14 Dollars).
There are several factors that contribute to the price of cashew nut in UAE. They include supply and demand; speculation by traders and investors and political instability in cashew producing countries. It is important to take note of these factors when purchasing cashews to get the best deals. Vendors also determine which price they will sell their cashews.
Cashews UAE
There are numerous companies in UAE which import cashew nuts. Thus cashew nuts are available throughout the year.
There are different varieties of cashew nuts which are preferred for specific uses. Whole cashews are categorized based on their quality. W-180 is large in size and the most expensive. W-210 is also known as jumbo nuts, W-240 is reasonably priced, W-320 is the most popular and highly available while W-450 is the smallest and cheapest grade hence it is favored among low priced whole grades. Whole cashews are most preferred for snacking.
Scorched cashews are slightly burnt but they have the same nutritional values as whole cashews. Broken cashews are high quality cashes with broken and slightly cracked kernels. They also have high nutritional content and are mostly used as ingredients in different dishes.
Cashew Nuts UAE
Cashew nuts undergo several processes before they are fit for human consumption. They are first separated from the cashew apple which affects the quality of the nut. The raw cashews are then dried in the sun for at least two days. They are then steamed to remove the hard outer shell to obtain the kernel. Steaming softens the hard shell which is then removed by cutting.
Cashew kernels are dried to reduce moisture content so that they can be stored for a longer period. They are then sorted into several grades and tested for impurities using a metal detector. Finally, they are packed into labelled packages to be transported to their destinations.
Labels of cashews in UAE must contain the following information:
- Name of product
- Net quantity
- List of ingredients
- Country of origin
- Nutritional information
- Storage instructions
- Expiry date
Final Note
Cashew nut imports in UAE have a huge market which is continuously growing. Cashew demand is also increasing since its uses in various industries also keeps increasing. Both importers and consumers can look forward to getting more cashews at better prices.