Forging links across global cashew supply chain

The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency jointly organized the 15th Vinacas Golden Cashew Renderzvour 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27. Under the theme “From raw materials to added value - Connecting value chains and shaping the future of global cashew supply chains,” the conference aimed to strengthen cooperation across the industry.

The conference brought together 350 delegates from international organizations, industry associations, expert communities, and domestic and foreign businesses. Held as part of the national trade promotion program under the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the event served as a major gathering for the global cashew industry.

Organizers present commemorative plaques to distinguished speakers at the conference. Photo: Binh Nguyen

The event featured 40 speakers representing countries and territories worldwide. Discussions covered a range of topics, including raw cashew nuts, cashew kernels, deep processing, food safety, and cashew-processing machinery and equipment. The event also provided a platform for domestic and international businesses to sign cooperation agreements.

Vietnam's cashew industry has grown remarkably over the decades. In 1980, the country primarily cultivated cashew trees and exported raw nuts to India, while only a handful of small processing facilities operated with rudimentary equipment. Vinacas was officially established in 1990, and Vietnam began exporting cashew kernels to China in 1992. Two years later, the first batches of Vietnamese cashew kernels entered the U.S. market, the world's largest consumer of cashew kernels. In 2006, Vietnam overtook India to become the world's top exporter of cashew kernels. In 2010, cashew kernel exports exceeded US$1 billion for the first time, making cashews one of Vietnam's agricultural export commodities to surpass that milestone.

The industry continued to expand in the years that followed, reaching a new high in 2025, when Vietnam's cashew exports totaled a record US$5.4 billion. Vietnam also retained its position as the world's largest processor and exporter of cashew kernels for the 19th consecutive year, accounting for more than 80% of global cashew kernel exports.

Vinacas Chairman Pham Van Cong talks with foreign businesses on the sidelines of the conference. Photo: B. Nguyen

Dong Nai is a major cashew-growing and processing hub in Vietnam. The city has more than 176,000 hectares of cashew plantations, producing around 300,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually. It is also home to nearly 2,800 businesses and facilities involved in collecting, pre-processing and processing cashews. Some companies have invested in modern technologies to produce higher-value processed products.

In 2026, the cashew industry faced a range of challenges, including shifts in the global trade environment and tariff policies, rising trade barriers, production volatility, higher transportation and logistics expenses, and fluctuating financing costs. Despite these pressures and broader uncertainty in the global economy, Vietnam's cashew exports reached nearly US$4.2 billion in the first nine months of the year.

Delegates representing foreign businesses learn about Vietnamese cashew-processing machinery at an exhibition booth during the conference. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Vinacas Chairman Pham Van Cong said Vietnam was ready to work with other countries, international organizations, industry associations and businesses to strengthen the global cashew industry.

“We want to deepen cooperation, share information and develop new solutions together. Above all, we hope to build a cashew supply chain that is more stable, transparent and capable of creating greater value for all stakeholders. No country can build an entire supply chain on its own, and sustainable development is impossible unless all links in the chain grow together. Raw materials create value, cooperation creates strength, and innovation shapes the future. This is the spirit of the 15th Vinacas Golden Cashew Renderzvour 2026,” Cong emphasized.

By B. Nguyen – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha