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Food and farm goods

Import raw cashew nuts (in shell)

Raw material for India’s cashew processing units. 2.5% duty; most comes from West Africa and Tanzania.

Free to importHS 0801.31
Basic customs duty
2.5%
2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 2.29 bn
from 23 countries

The tariff rate for 0801 31 00 is 2.5% (with effect from 1 May 2022, Customs Tariff as on 30.06.2025). Exporters importing under an Advance Authorisation can import duty-free against export of kernels. Check the effective rate on ICEGATE before contracting. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025) ↗

What is imported

Cashew processors in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa and Odisha import raw cashew nuts in shell to keep factories running beyond the Indian season. Imports in FY 2025-26 were about US$ 2.29 billion (TradeStat). The largest suppliers were Tanzania, Togo, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS). Plant quarantine release is needed. Cashew kernels (0801 32) are a different item with their own conditions — check the ITC(HS) entry if you import kernels.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Plant Quarantine (PPQS)Import permit where the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 requires one, plus inspection and release at the port. Apply on PQMS before shipment.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗
  • DGFTAdvance Authorisation, if you import raw nuts duty-free to export kernels.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • FSSAICentral licence for food importers (FoSCoS), then a No Objection Certificate for each consignment through FICS at the port.fics.fssai.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Plant quarantine inspection and fumigation records against the phytosanitary certificate.
  • Customs checks quantity and declared value against international price data.
  • Under Advance Authorisation, import and export quantities are tracked against the norms.

Practical tips

  • Buy on outturn (kernel output in lbs per 80 kg bag) and nut count, and have an independent surveyor cut-test samples at loading.
  • Check moisture at loading; wet nuts lose outturn in transit.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Paying in full before an independent outturn test; disputes after arrival are hard to win.
  • Missing the export obligation period under an Advance Authorisation, which brings back the duty with interest.
Sources (7)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  3. Plant Quarantine Management System (PQMS)
  4. Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
  5. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  6. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  7. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys raw cashew nuts (in shell)

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 2.29 bn
Change from 2024-25
+40.8%
Supplying countries
23
Biggest supplier
Tanzania
17%
Tanzania: US$ 391 mnTogo: US$ 304 mnGhana: US$ 289 mnNigeria: US$ 261 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 236 mnSenegal: US$ 159 mnMozambique: US$ 40.5 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 17.3 mnIndonesia: US$ 8 mnSingapore: US$ 4.6 mnTanzania: US$ 391 mnTanzaniaTogo: US$ 304 mnTogoGhana: US$ 289 mnNigeria: US$ 261 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 236 mnSenegal: US$ 159 mnSenegalMozambique: US$ 40.5 mnMozambiqueUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 17.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesIndonesia: US$ 8 mnIndonesiaSingapore: US$ 4.6 mnIndia
Where India imports raw cashew nuts (in shell) from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 985 mn9852020-212021-22: US$ 1.23 bn1.2k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.79 bn1.8k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.41 bn1.4k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.63 bn1.6k2024-252025-26: US$ 2.29 bn2.3k2025-26
India’s raw cashew nuts (in shell) imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1TanzaniaUS$ 391 mn+13%
2TogoUS$ 304 mn+34.3%
3GhanaUS$ 289 mn+44.5%
4Guinea BissauUS$ 265 mn+46.6%
5NigeriaUS$ 261 mn+136%
6Côte d’IvoireUS$ 236 mn+35.1%
7SenegalUS$ 159 mn+72.8%
8GuineaUS$ 139 mn+44.3%
9Burkina FasoUS$ 120 mn+91.1%
10GambiaUS$ 54.7 mn+91.9%
11MozambiqueUS$ 40.5 mn-27.7%
12United Arab EmiratesUS$ 17.3 mn+64.4%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. NigeriaUS$ 111 mn → US$ 261 mn+136%
  2. GambiaUS$ 28.5 mn → US$ 54.7 mn+91.9%
  3. Burkina FasoUS$ 62.6 mn → US$ 120 mn+91.1%
  4. SenegalUS$ 91.8 mn → US$ 159 mn+72.8%
  5. Guinea BissauUS$ 181 mn → US$ 265 mn+46.6%
  6. GhanaUS$ 200 mn → US$ 289 mn+44.5%

Shrinking sources

  1. IndonesiaUS$ 25.8 mn → US$ 8 mn-69%
  2. MozambiqueUS$ 55.9 mn → US$ 40.5 mn-27.7%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Cashen nuts fresh/dried in shell0801 31 00US$ 2.29 bn+40.8%1.49 mn tonnesUS$ 1.54 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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