How to Import Cashew Kernels from Vietnam: 7 Questions to Ask Before Your First Order

Before you order cashew kernels from Vietnam, pin down your grade, volume, packing and delivery terms. Then screen each producer on food safety controls, lot-level specs and paperwork. If you skip that screening, you’ll find out the hard way.

And the hard way is slow. A supplier that doesn’t fit your spec costs you a week, often more: another email, another spec sheet, another call that goes nowhere. These seven questions help you avoid that.

Vietnam is a good place to start looking. Its cashew exports passed $5.2 billion in 2025, a record, with volume reaching 766,585 tonnes. That made cashews the country’s third-largest agricultural export, behind only coffee and fruits and vegetables. Supply isn’t the problem. Finding the one producer that fits is. vietnamnews hochiminhcity

First, know your grade

Cashew kernels are traded by standard grades. “W” means white, “WW” means white whole, and the number roughly tells you how many kernels fit in a pound. Lower number, bigger kernel.

If your RFQ just says “cashews, W320,” expect a pile of follow-up questions. Add your color tolerance, maximum broken percentage and moisture range up front.

The 7 questions

Bonus question if traceability matters to your brand: where did the raw nuts come from? A large share of the raw cashews Vietnam processes is imported, mainly from Africa and Cambodia. 

What US importers need to line up

Almost every cashew sold in the US is imported. Vietnam, India and Brazil were the top sources in 2020. Before your first container lands: food-safety

• FDA rules. Importers deal with FDA facility registration, prior notice of shipments and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) under FSMA. FSVP is the US importer’s job, so keep your supplier verification records complete.
• Raw vs. treated. Some cashews are imported raw, without a step that reduces pathogens, and FDA has reviewed Salmonella outbreaks tied to cashews and cashew-containing products. Know which one you’re buying, and what your own process does afterward.
• No pre-approval. FDA doesn’t approve individual importers, products or shipments before they arrive. Get the paperwork right the first time.
• Labeling. Tree nut allergen labeling applies to finished products that contain cashews.
• Duties. US duties on Vietnamese cashew kernels came down to 20% in July 2025 and 0% in November 2025. Rates like these can change, so confirm the current number with your customs broker before you lock in pricing. cropgpt

Not legal advice. Confirm details with your customs broker or compliance lead.

Why a complete brief gets a better answer

In 2025, China overtook the US for the first time as the largest buyer of Vietnamese cashews. Producers have more places to sell than they used to, and a vague request is easy to skip. A complete one is easy to match. 

How we handle a cashew request at Veximtrade

We’re not a directory. We represent a selected group of Vietnamese food producers, and we work directly with each one on specs, grades, seasonality, packing and export requirements.

1. You send the brief: product, grade, volume, destination port, delivery window and Incoterm.
2. We match it against the producers we represent and what they can supply in your season.
3. You get a straight answer within one working day (Vietnam time, UTC+7): a producer that fits, or a clear “not this season.”

Every reply sorts what we know into three buckets, so you can see what’s safe to rely on:

• Stated: what the producer tells us, like specs, capacity and certificates.
• Verified: what we’ve checked against documents or records, with the source shown.
• Still open: what isn’t confirmed yet, so you can ask before you commit.

Illustrative example: say you ask for WW320 steamed kernels, FOB, delivered in eight weeks. Our reply might mark the grade and capacity as stated, the food safety certificate as verified against the document, and the packing format as still open. You decide with the full picture.

No portal, no subscription. And if your product isn’t one we represent, we’ll say so.

FAQ

What’s the best cashew grade for snacking?
Large whole grades like WW180, WW210 and WW240 are typically used for premium snacking. WW320 is a common mid-range choice.

Are Vietnamese cashew kernels sold raw or roasted?
Both exist. Ask each supplier whether the kernels went through a pathogen-reduction step, and ask for documentation.

What do I need to import cashews into the US?
FDA facility registration, prior notice of shipments, FSVP and customs entry. A customs broker can confirm current requirements.

How fast will I hear back?
Within one working day, Vietnam time, from Veximtrade.

What should I put in a sourcing request?
Company, email and product are required. Quantity, Incoterm, payment method, lead time and your market help us give you a sharper first reply.

Ready to find your cashew producer?

Email sales@veximtrade.com or use the request form at veximtrade.com. We’ll tell you what’s stated, what’s verified and what’s still open.