Ask five traders which HS code covers cashew nuts and you may hear three different answers. All of them can be right. Cashews move through the world in several forms: raw nuts still in the shell, shelled kernels, roasted and salted snacks, and by-products such as shell oil. Each form has its own classification, and in Vietnam, the world's largest cashew processor, all of them show up in the trade records.
The scale of the trade makes the point. In 2025 Vietnam exported about 766,000 tonnes of cashews worth around US$5.2 billion, a record, while importing close to 2.9 million tonnes of raw nuts worth about US$4.5 billion. A search built on a single code would catch one side of that story and miss the rest. Start with Vietnam cashew export data to see the shipments behind these numbers.
The Main Cashew HS Codes
Cashews sit under HS heading 0801, which also covers coconuts and Brazil nuts. Within that heading, two 6-digit codes matter most.
| HS code | Description | Typical use in Vietnam's trade |
|---|---|---|
| 0801.31 | Cashew nuts, in shell | Raw nuts imported for processing |
| 0801.32 | Cashew nuts, shelled (kernels) | The main export product, also imported in smaller amounts |
| 2008.19 | Nuts otherwise prepared or preserved (roasted, salted, flavoured) | Snack products and ready-to-eat packs |
| Other headings | Shell oil, cashew apple products and by-products | Industrial and food ingredient trade |
Some shipment records carry longer 8-digit codes that begin with the same six digits, for example 0801.32.00. Search with the 6-digit code first, then look at the longer versions.
Why One Code Is Never Enough
1. Imports and exports use different codes
Vietnam buys raw nuts in shell (0801.31) and sells kernels (0801.32). If you search only 0801.32, you will see the export side and none of the raw material flow. If you search only 0801.31, you will see the importers, a very different group of companies, and no kernel exporters at all.
2. Kernels also arrive as imports
Vietnam imports kernels as well, around 128,000 tonnes in 2025 worth roughly US$880 million, mostly for re-packing and blending. These records sit under 0801.32 too, which means an export search and an import search can return the same code with a different meaning.
3. Roasted and flavoured nuts move to another chapter
Once a kernel is roasted, salted or coated, it usually leaves heading 0801 and moves to 2008.19. A buyer looking for retail-ready cashew snacks will find them there, not under 0801.32. Searching both codes together shows which exporters sell plain kernels and which sell finished snacks.
4. By-products live elsewhere
Cashew shell liquid, cashew apple products and shell cake are usually classified under other headings. They are small in value next to kernels, but they matter for buyers in coatings, resin and feed industries.
5. Records are not always coded perfectly
Descriptions are written by shippers, and mistakes happen. A kernel shipment can appear under a wrong code, or a raw nut shipment can be described as kernels. That is why a good search combines the HS code with product keywords such as the grade names buyers use.
Read the Product Description, Not Just the Code
HS codes do not separate cashew grades. Two shipments under 0801.32 can have a very different price. Look for these terms in the product description:
| Term in the record | What it means | Price level |
|---|---|---|
| W180, W210 | Whole white kernels, the largest sizes | Highest |
| W240, W320 | Whole white kernels, the most traded sizes | High |
| W450 | Whole white kernels, smaller size | Medium |
| Splits, butts, pieces | Broken kernels used in baking and sweets | Lower |
| Scorched, dessert grade | Darker kernels, mostly for processing | Lowest |
| RCN, raw cashew nut | Nuts in shell with an origin name such as Cambodia, Ivory Coast or Ghana | Priced per tonne of raw material |
| Roasted, salted, honey, wasabi | Flavoured products under 2008.19 | Retail priced |
The number in a W grade shows roughly how many kernels fit in a pound, so a lower number means a bigger kernel and a higher price.
Who Sells and Who Buys
On the export side, the leading markets are China, which overtook the United States in 2025 with about US$1.1 billion, followed by the United States, the Netherlands and other European countries. On the import side, Cambodia is the biggest source of raw nuts, followed by Ivory Coast, Ghana and other West African countries. Processing plants are concentrated in the south of Vietnam, around Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai, and in the Mekong Delta.
A Simple Search Plan
- Search HS 0801.32 to find kernel exporters and rank them by shipment count.
- Search HS 0801.31 to find the raw nut importers and see where they source from.
- Search HS 2008.19 with the word cashew to find companies selling roasted products.
- Match the three lists. Companies that appear in two or more are usually integrated processors with their own plants.
- Check unit prices and grades before you contact anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for cashew kernels?
The HS code for shelled cashew nuts (kernels) is 0801.32.
What is the HS code for raw cashew nuts?
Raw cashew nuts in shell are classified under 0801.31.
Are roasted cashews under the same code?
Usually not. Roasted, salted or flavoured cashews normally fall under 2008.19, in the prepared foods chapter.
Why does Vietnam import so many raw cashews?
Vietnam's own harvest covers only a small part of what its factories can process, so processors buy raw nuts from Cambodia and Africa and ship out kernels.
Search Cashew Trade Data
Ready to look at the shipments? Open Vietnam cashew export data to search 0801.32 and 0801.31, compare exporters and check prices by grade. If you need help combining codes for your product, send us an enquiry.
Disclaimer: Vietnam Import Export Data provides shipment records and trade datasets. We do not buy or sell any products. For purchasing or selling enquiries, please contact the importers and exporters listed in our datasets.
