Europe Cashew Market Analysis
The Europe Cashew Market size is estimated at USD 1.70 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 2.12 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.48% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- Europeans consume cashew nuts as simple snacks, often roasted and salted. Recently, there's been a notable uptick in the consumption of unsalted and less-processed varieties. However, Europe faces challenges in cashew production due to its unsuitable climate. Cashew plants thrive in tropical regions characterized by warmth and humidity, which starkly contrast Europe's colder, drier climate.
- As a result, Europe primarily sources its cashew nuts from Vietnam, Cote d'Ivoire, India, and Brazil. For example, in 2023, data from the ITC Trade Map revealed that Europe imported 237,995 metric tons of cashew nuts, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year, underscoring the region's rising demand. Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom stand out as the primary importers, collectively accounting for 59.4% of Europe's total imports.
- Additionally, the region facilitates the re-exporting of imported cashew nuts among its member countries. For example, as reported by CBI, Ministry of External Affairs, the Netherlands is the second-largest importer of cashew nuts, subsequently re-exporting them to various European nations. Germany is the primary recipient of these Dutch re-exports, consuming approximately 15,000 metric tons annually. France also plays a significant role, another major destination for Dutch re-exports, having imported over 4,600 metric tons in 2022.
Europe Cashew Market Trends
Increasing Demand for Cashews is Boosting Imports
Cashews are gaining popularity in the European market, driven by their recognized health benefits and nutritional value. Europeans enjoy cashews as simple roasted snacks and incorporate them into various products, including fruit and nut bars, breakfast cereals, nut spreads, beverages, ice cream toppings, cookies, and other sweets. This diverse usage is fueling the rising demand for cashews across the region.
Rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, cashews have become a favored choice among Europeans. The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council reports an estimated per capita consumption of 1.88 kg annually in the region, reflecting the habits of those who include cashews in their diet. This surging demand for cashews in Europe is driving up import figures.
Germany is the region's top consumer, accounting for 28.5% of total imports. In 2023, Germany's imports reached 67,794 metric tons, marking a 13% increase from the previous year, according to ITC Trade Map. This uptick in consumption is expected to bolster imports from various countries, further propelling the market's growth during the forecast period.
Vietnam is the Major Supplier of Cashews to Europe
Vietnam, leveraging its vast production capabilities and automated processing equipment, has emerged as Europe's top supplier of cashew nuts, with the Netherlands trailing closely. Data from the ITC trade map indicates that in 2023, Vietnam achieved a record export volume of 43,575 metric tons of cashew nuts to Germany, followed closely by the Netherlands. Over the past five years, Honduras and Indonesia have been increasing their foothold in the European market, boasting average annual export growth rates of 40% and 50%, respectively. However, their overall export volumes remain modest. Notably, key EU nations, including the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, rank among the top 10 markets for Vietnamese cashew exports.
Vietnam's cashew exports predominantly reach Western European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. The cashew industry has made significant inroads into the Dutch and German markets, which serve as pivotal hubs for importing and re-exporting cashews. Beyond Western Europe, Vietnamese cashew nuts have found their way into several Eastern European nations, notably Russia, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
Moreover, the European Union and Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) have slashed the tax rate on cashew kernels imported from Vietnam to the EU down to 0%. In Germany, the popularity of cashews is on the rise, especially in the snack industry. The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade highlights that Germany consistently sources a significant chunk of its cashew imports from Vietnam, attributing this to the steady supply and superior quality. Consequently, the robust export volume and value of cashews to major European nations solidify Vietnam's position as a primary supplier, bolstering market growth projections for the coming years.
Europe Cashew Market News
- July 2024: European Union shelled cashew imports hit a record high in the first half of 2024, which was 3% more than the previous year, crossing 80,000 metric tons for the first time.
- May 2024: The Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden said the North European market had specified nine additional requirements for cashew nut imports. They were quality standards, food safety certification, CSR regulations, packaging regulations, labeling requirements, organic certification, national organic labeling, sustainability certification, and ethnic certification.
