Cashew Trade FAQ — Buying & Sourcing with TropLink

TropLink is a commodity trading intermediary specialising in West and East African cashew. We connect qualified buyers — European importers, processors and traders — with pre-vetted African suppliers. We earn a commission of 2–5% on completed transactions, which covers sourcing, qualification, documentation coordination and logistics liaison. You submit a buying brief, we match you with a verified supplier lot, and we support you through to Bill of Lading release.

TropLink sources the full range of cashew commodities: Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) in shell, W240 (large white kernels), W320 (standard whole white kernels), W450 (smaller whole white kernels), cashew splits (broken kernels), and Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL). All lots are origin-verified from West and East Africa.

TropLink works on full container loads. For Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN), the standard minimum is approximately 20 MT (metric tons), corresponding to a FCL 20' container. For processed kernels (W240, W320, W450), the minimum is typically 5 MT — smaller volumes may be considered in exceptional cases. Contact us to discuss your specific requirement.

Every TropLink lot includes: a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection authority (e.g. ANADER in Côte d'Ivoire), a certificate of origin, and an SGS or Bureau Veritas independent inspection report confirming quality, moisture and weight at loading port. Organic certification is possible for specific origins and volumes — ask us at the time of your brief. Fumigation certificates and weight certificates are standard.

TropLink supports FOB (Free on Board — risk passes at loading port), CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight — TropLink arranges ocean freight and insurance), and CFR (Cost and Freight — TropLink arranges freight, buyer arranges insurance). FOB from Abidjan, Cotonou and Bissau is the most common arrangement. CIF and CFR are available for established buyers.

From order confirmation to vessel loading, delivery typically takes 3–6 weeks depending on origin, port, vessel schedule and the complexity of the documentation. West African main season (March–June) is when spot lots ship fastest — 2–4 weeks is achievable. Outside the main season, forward-contract sourcing adds 1–2 extra weeks. Ocean transit to European ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre) is typically 12–18 days on top of the loading timeline.

Submit your buying requirement via our contact form. We respond within 24 business hours with an indicative price range and the available lot details. We'll need: product grade, volume, origin preference, destination port, target incoterm and preferred shipment window. Price quotes are obligation-free.

RCN stands for Raw Cashew Nuts — the unprocessed cashew nut in its shell, harvested and bagged for export to processing facilities in India, Vietnam, or Europe. RCN is graded primarily by KOR (Kernel Outturn Ratio), measured in lbs per 80 kg bag. W320 is a processed kernel grade: whole, white kernels with a count of 300–320 pieces per pound. It is the most globally traded cashew kernel grade, used in snacks, bakery, and food ingredients. W240 (larger, 200–240 per lb) commands a premium; W450 (smaller, 400–450 per lb) is priced at a discount.

Cashew prices are driven by several factors: harvest volume in West Africa (mainly March–June), demand from processing hubs in India and Vietnam, global kernel demand from Europe and the US, freight rates, and currency movements (USD/XOF/INR). The West African main crop season is the most important pricing window — early-season reports on crop size, moisture, and outturn directly move FOB Abidjan benchmarks. During the off-season, prices are supported by processor inventory levels and Vietnamese-origin kernel availability.

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a viscous, dark bio-phenolic oil extracted from cashew shells during kernel processing. It is a valuable industrial by-product used primarily in: brake linings and friction materials (the largest application globally), marine and industrial paints and varnishes, epoxy resin hardeners, and surface coatings. CNSL is sourced by TropLink in technical grade from West African kernel processors. It offers a more sustainable, bio-based alternative to petroleum-derived phenolics.