The report shows that in the first eight months of 2025, Cambodia exported approximately 941,000 tons of raw cashews, generating about $1.4 billion in revenue.
However, Uon Silot, the president of the Cambodia Cashew Association, pointed out that despite the strong export performance, most of the products are still being shipped to China via third countries, which limits the potential value growth that Cambodia should have obtained.
Political unrest in Tanzania causes global supply shortages
The main driver of the recent price surge is the global cashew market's turmoil due to the severe disruption of the Tanzanian production season. Tanzania's cashew harvest period usually lasts from October to January of the following year. However, post-election violence in the country has hindered foreign traders from participating in cashew auctions. The absence of international buyers has led to supply shortages and has impacted major processing countries such as Vietnam and India.
The Cambodia Cashew Association stated on Monday that the supply disruption has forced processors in these markets to fiercely compete for raw materials, thereby driving up global raw cashew prices.
Uon Silot said: "Usually, the price of raw cashews in Cambodia drops from September to January of the following year because traders focus on importing from Tanzania and Indonesia. However, this year we have seen the opposite—due to the bottleneck in the Tanzanian supply chain, prices have skyrocketed."
Data shows that in October 2025, the average price of raw cashews in Cambodia rose to $2050 per ton, showing a significant deviation from the seasonal trend.
Regional competition intensifies, highlighting Cambodia's key role
In various parts of Africa and Asia, there is a fierce competition for raw materials between Indian and Vietnamese buyers. Vietnamese traders active in Cambodia, leveraging their geographical proximity and lower transportation costs, are offering higher purchase prices than their Indian counterparts.
India currently has a competitive advantage in securing supply due to its long-term relationships with West African producers and its robust order farming arrangements. At the same time, India has steadily increased cashew imports over the past two years to protect its domestic processing industry and maintain stable export flows.
Industry observers warn that if political instability in Tanzania continues, the global cashew market may face further turmoil. "Continued turmoil will only tighten supply and push prices even higher in the coming months," Silot warned.
Committing to long-term development, moving towards global competitiveness
This unexpected price surge highlights Cambodia's increasingly important role as a key supplier in the regional cashew trade, despite the industry still grappling with international market fluctuations and unpredictable global supply chains.
Cashews remain one of Cambodia's most promising agro-industrial crops, making significant contributions to the country's economic growth and rural livelihoods.
The Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture expects cashew cultivation area to expand to 600,000 hectares by the end of 2025, with an annual production exceeding 1 million tons. As Cambodia enhances its processing capabilities and deepens trade partnerships, it is steadily positioning itself as a competitive player in the global cashew industry.