Cashew Prices Surge Past $1,700 Amid Global Shortage, Boosting Cambodia’s Export Outlook

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 4, 2025)— Cambodian cashew nut prices are expected to climb above $1,700 per ton, driven by global supply shortages, climate disruptions and shifting trade conditions — creating favorable opportunities for Cambodian farmers, according to the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia.

Oun Silot, president of the association, said global demand remains strong while extreme weather has reduced yields in major producing regions in West and East Africa. The drop in supply, combined with high demand from markets such as China and Europe, is pushing international prices upward.

“Normally, when output decreases while demand increases, it signals a positive trend for cashew prices,” he said.

Vietnam, the world’s largest cashew processor, has already run out of raw stock and is turning to West African suppliers. With most African countries yet to begin harvesting — except Tanzania — raw cashew prices have already surged to $1,760 per ton.

Silot said the shortage is a promising sign for Cambodian farmers but cautioned that unpredictable weather could affect the 2026 harvest. Climate change, he stressed, remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.

To address risks, the association has introduced affordable, locally produced solutions such as High-Efficiency Microorganisms and Bacillus Subtilis leaf-spray fertilizers, which have boosted yields by more than 10% over the past four years while lowering production costs.

Cambodia’s cashew sector has seen strong export momentum. The Ministry of Commerce reported more than $807 million in cashew exports in the first 10 months of 2025 — a 60.93% increase from the same period last year.