In 2025, the global demand for cashew nuts continues to increase since they are essential in cooking snacks and are healthy. Nevertheless, you must understand India's regulations, importing, market conditions, and shipping information to import raw cashew nuts effectively. This guide will help you with the process of importing raw cashew nuts into India in 2025.

 Understanding the Cashew Nut Import Market in India

India is the world's biggest consumer and processor of cashew nuts. It imports a massive volume of raw cashew nuts, mainly from West African countries, Vietnam, and Tanzania. India also exports significant amounts of processed cashew products, such as cashew kernels and other cashew products. Because of domestic consumption and exports, the demand for raw cashew nuts will continue to be high in 2025.

 Demand drivers:

- Health awareness: Increasing numbers of people are health-conscious about snacks. Hence, cashew nuts are in demand as they possess good nutrition, such as healthy fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

- Cuisine application: Cashews are widely applied in Indian cuisine, such as in curries, sweets, and snacks.

- Export opportunities: India's processed cashew industry is primarily export-oriented, earning a lot of foreign exchange for the nation.

 Important Factors to Consider While Importing Raw Cashew Nuts

Before importing, here are some of the important factors to be considered:

- Supply countries: A few of the major supply countries of raw cashew nuts include Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Guinea-Bissau. It is extremely important to choose a good supplier who provides quality raw cashews for trouble-free operations.>

- Quality standards: India has stringent regulations for importing agricultural produce. Raw cashew nuts need to conform to specific standards in terms of size and appearance and be pest- and disease-free.

- Price trends: The price of raw cashew nuts can vary based on weather conditions in the countries of origin, global demand, and currency exchange rates. It is necessary to monitor market trends to make smart buying choices.

- Sustainability practices: Good sourcing practices are increasingly important. Consumers and companies are interested in procuring from sustainable, fair-trade-certified sources.

 Import Procedures for Raw Cashew Nuts

Before importing raw cashew nuts, businesses must comply with some of the regulations laid down by the government of India. The following are the registration and compliance procedures that must be followed:

• Registration and Compliance with Indian Authorities

- Importer Exporter Code (IEC): The first step in legally importing any product to India is to get an IEC from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). This 10-digit unique code is necessary for foreign trade and customs clearance.

- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Since cashew nuts are a food product, they must comply with the standards prescribed by the FSSAI. Ensure that the nuts are free from contamination and comply with the food safety standards prescribed by this authority.

- Phytosanitary Certificate: A phytosanitary certificate is needed to ensure that the raw cashew nuts are free from plant pests and diseases. The plant quarantine department of the exporting country issues this certificate.

- Customs Duty and Taxes: Raw cashew nuts to be imported into India are required to pay customs duties, GST (Goods and Services Tax), and other relevant taxes. For the year 2025, the import duty on cashew nuts is typically 5%, and GST is also 5% on cashew nuts. Rates can change, so it is required to confirm the updated tariffs from Indian Customs.

•  Import Documentation

You will require these documents to import raw cashew nuts:

- Commercial Invoice: It should contain the terms of the transaction, such as the seller, buyer, quantity, price, and description of the product.

- Bill of Lading: This is a shipping company document that evidences the shipment of goods.

- Packing List: It indicates the packaging and dimensions of the shipment.

- Certificate of Origin: This document states the origin of the raw cashew nuts and that they meet the requirements of trade agreements.

- Import Declaration: This is a legal declaration to Indian Customs that describes the goods and their worth.

•  Customs Clearance

The raw cashew nuts will need to be cleared through customs when they arrive in India. When raw cashew nuts reach major Indian ports like Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata, they will be subjected to thorough customs examination. 

Customs officials will examine the cargo and verify all the necessary documents to confirm whether they meet Indian import rules. 

Then, the duties and taxes necessary should be paid to facilitate the clearance procedure. In addition, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) may inspect to verify that the product is compliant with food safety standards, and a sample of cashews may be drawn for testing.

 After the shipment has passed through these tests and inspections, the shipment is cleared, and the raw cashew nuts are taken to the importer's warehouse or processing plant for further processing or distribution.

 Procuring and Transporting Raw Cashew Nuts to India

•  Selecting the Suitable Supplier

For a quality and continuous supply, it is crucial to have a trustworthy supplier. Research well, go through reviews, and verify the certifications of the suppliers. Take the following into consideration:

- Reputation: Opt for suppliers with a track record of supplying high-quality raw cashew nuts.

- Certifications: Look for suppliers that hold quality certifications, like ISO 9001, HACCP, or Fair Trade, to ensure the nuts are sourced ethically.

- Pricing and payment terms: Agree on reasonable prices and payment terms so that you achieve a profit.

•  Shipping and Freight Forwarding

Shipping raw cashew nuts to India generally uses ocean freight. The main processes involved in shipping are:

- Selecting the shipping method: Sea freight is the most typical method of importing raw cashew nuts into a nation. The cashews are typically stuffed in large containers and transported by ocean to India.

- Freight forwarding: Employing a freight forwarding service can simplify matters by handling logistics, customs clearance, and delivery.

- Insurance: It is advisable to purchase cargo insurance to insure against any risks during shipment.

 Processing Raw Cashew Nuts in India

Once the raw cashew nuts have been received and cleared, they can be processed for local consumption or exported in the form of cashew kernels. India is one of the prominent cashew-processing countries, and some of the importers of raw cashews also have processing facilities. The processing activities generally include:

- Shelling: The raw cashew nuts are opened to remove the shells. This is typically done manually or using machines.

- Drying: Once opened, the cashew nuts are dried to eliminate any remaining moisture.

- Sorting and Grading: The cashews are sorted by size and quality.

- Packaging: Once sorted, cashews are packaged for sale as raw nuts or processed into cashew products such as cashew butter, snacks, and sweets.

Marketing and Selling Cashew Nuts in India

After your raw cashew nuts are processed, the next step is to focus on selling and reaching customers. Two significant ways to sell are:

- Domestic Market: You can sell your processed cashew nuts to food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. You can also try selling directly to consumers by starting a brand of packaged cashews.

- Export Market: India exports a large quantity of processed cashew products. If you are importing raw cashew nuts, you can think about partnering with export businesses to sell your processed nuts to the world.

 Challenges and Considerations for Importers

Raw cashew nut import can be a lucrative business, but there are certain problems to ponder:

The global raw cashew nut market can be highly volatile, with the price going up and down depending on weather in producer countries and political problems. Such volatility may make it hard for importers to accurately forecast the actual cost of purchase. Quality control is also a key consideration for raw cashew nuts. To make sure the product is consistently of high standard, there needs to be thorough inspection and testing along the supply chain. Logistics and supply chain management also play a significant role in the timely delivery of raw cashews. Delivery times can be affected, and costs raised by shipping delays or customs, so importers must be able to deal with these issues efficiently to ensure smooth operations.

Opportunities and Challenges in Importing Raw Cashew Nuts to India in 2025: How Momex Can Help

There are ample opportunities for importing raw cashew nuts to India in 2025 due to the high domestic demand for cashews, both in the domestic market and for exports. However, companies have to deal with complicated import procedures, Indian regulations, and quality requirements to prosper. With knowledge of the critical factors in sourcing, shipping, processing, and marketing, you can start a profitable raw cashew import business in India. In case you would like to handle the complexities of importing raw cashew nuts to India and need professional services in sourcing, shipping, customs clearance, or marketing, Momex is here to assist you. We have vast experience in international trade and provide customized services to make your import process efficient and hassle-free.