Cashews: Processing and Imports

How India became a hub for processing cashews, why it imports raw nuts from Africa, and the labour behind cashew processing in Kollam.

Cashews are one of India’s important agricultural exports.

India’s role

India is a major producer, processor and consumer of cashews.
Kollam in Kerala has been a historic centre of cashew processing.

Imported raw nuts

India imports large quantities of raw cashew nuts from West African countries like Côte d’Ivoire and from Vietnam’s suppliers, processes them and sells the kernels.

Labour-intensive processing

Shelling cashews is difficult because the shell contains a caustic liquid.
Processing has traditionally employed many women, often in manual work.
Mechanisation is increasing.

Competition

Vietnam has become the world’s largest cashew processor and exporter, using mechanisation.
African countries want to process nuts themselves, capturing more value.

Domestic demand

Rising incomes have increased Indian cashew consumption, and India uses much of its processed cashews at home.

The Kollam factory

Women in a Kollam cashew factory hand-shell nuts imported from Africa. Nearby, a mechanised plant processes nuts faster with fewer workers.

Thinking India grows all the cashews it processes

India imports large quantities of raw nuts, especially from Africa.

Key takeaways

India is a major cashew producer, processor and consumer.
It imports raw nuts from Africa and elsewhere.
Processing is labour-intensive, employing many women.
Vietnam and African processing challenge India.