Description
Tamim International produces and exports Tanzanian cashew nuts in two forms: raw cashew nuts (RCN) in shell for shelling and processing plants, and cashew kernels for roasters, snack and confectionery makers, packers and importers. We ship to buyers worldwide on CIF or DDP terms. Every written offer states the product form, the grade, the quantity and the delivery term, and no payment is requested until you have inspected the goods and signed the contract.
At a glance
| Item | Raw cashew nuts (RCN) | Cashew kernels |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Whole nuts in shell, dried | Shelled, peeled kernels |
| Graded by | Outturn (KOR, lbs of kernel per 80 kg bag), nut count per kg, moisture, defectives | Size grade (for example W240), colour/quality class and moisture |
| Origin | Tanzania | |
| Delivery terms | CIF or DDP to your port or premises | |
| Payment | T/T, only after in-person inspection and contract signature | |
| Price | Quoted per lot on request (no list price) | |
Raw cashew nuts: the quality parameters buyers check
Raw cashew nuts are bought for one reason: the kernels they yield. The main figure in any RCN contract is the outturn, also called KOR (kernel output ratio). It is measured with a cutting test: a sample of nuts is cut open, the good kernels are weighed, and the result is expressed as pounds of usable kernel per 80 kg bag of raw nuts. The higher the outturn, the more kernel a processor recovers from each tonne.
The East African standard for raw cashew nuts, DEAS 1000:2019 Raw cashew nut – Specification, sets these limits:
| Parameter | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outturn (KOR), minimum, lbs per 80 kg | 48 | 44 | 36 |
| Nut count per kg, maximum | 200 | 220 | 240 |
| Moisture, maximum | 10% | ||
| Total defective nuts, maximum | 10% | ||
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.5% | ||
In Tanzania’s 2026/2027 marketing rules, the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania classes nuts with an outturn of 48 lbs or more per 80 kg bag as standard grade and 44–47 lbs as under grade. Our offers state the outturn, nut count and moisture of the lot, and the contract names how they will be tested at loading.
Cashew kernels: grades and what W240 means
Kernels are traded by size and quality using industry grade codes. “W” means whole kernels, and the number is the approximate count of kernels per pound. The Association of Food Industries (AFI) Specifications for Cashew Kernels (updated September 2023) give these size ranges:
| Size grade | Kernels per pound | Kernels per kilo |
|---|---|---|
| W180 | 140–180 | 266–395 |
| W210 | 180–210 | 395–465 |
| W240 | 220–240 | 485–530 |
| W320 | 300–320 | 660–706 |
| W450 | 400–450 | 880–990 |
Under the same specification, a whole kernel is one where no more than one-eighth has broken off, moisture must be between 3% and 5%, and kernels are packed in airtight, hermetically sealed containers flushed with food-grade CO2 and nitrogen. Besides wholes, kernels are also sold as butts, splits and pieces. Tell us the grade you need and we will confirm availability for the current crop.
Tanzania’s cashew season
Tanzania’s cashew crop grows mainly in the southern regions of Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma, and in Pwani. It comes to market while Indian and West African supply is out of season. Raw nuts are collected through cooperatives into licensed warehouses and sold at auctions regulated by the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania and run online on the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange. The 2026/2027 season opened on 1 September 2026, with auctions starting on 19 October 2026. New-crop raw nuts are therefore available from late October, and kernels follow as the crop is processed.
Who buys Tanzanian cashews, and what they ask for
| Buyer | Usually buys | Focus of the contract |
|---|---|---|
| Shelling and processing plants (India has long been the main destination for Tanzanian raw nuts, with Vietnam another major processing market) | Raw cashew nuts | Outturn, nut count, moisture, defectives, crop year |
| Importers and packers in Europe | Kernels | Size grade, defects, moisture, aflatoxin and other contaminant limits set by EU food law |
| Roasters, snack and confectionery makers in North America, the Middle East and Asia | Kernels | Grade (for example W240), packing, certificate of analysis, food-safety documents required by the importing country |
Requirements differ by destination. Tell us your country and port and we will confirm the documents and tests your customs and your customers need before the contract is signed.
Ports, Incoterms and the export levy
- Ports of loading: under the Cashewnut Board’s rules, raw nuts from Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma ship through Mtwara Port; cargo from other regions can ship through Mtwara, Dar es Salaam or Tanga. The port for your lot is stated in the offer.
- CIF: we arrange and pay for freight and marine insurance to your named port of discharge.
- DDP: we deliver to your named premises with import duties and clearance included.
- Export levy: Tanzania charges an export levy on raw cashew nuts, set for 2026/2027 at 15% of FOB value or USD 160 per tonne, whichever is higher. Under CIF and DDP the seller clears the goods for export, so the levy is part of our price, not a separate charge to you.
Inspect before you pay
- You send an inquiry with the product form, grade, quantity, destination and preferred Incoterm.
- We reply with a written offer for a specific lot.
- You or your appointed inspection company inspect the goods in person in Tanzania and check the quality against the offer.
- Only when you are satisfied do we both sign the sales contract.
- Payment is made by T/T under the contract, and the goods are loaded and shipped with the agreed documents.
We do not ask for advance payments, “registration fees” or deposits before you have inspected the goods. If anyone asks you to pay in our name before an inspection, contact us directly on +255 780 397931.
Export documents
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate issued by the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority
- Weight and quality certificate from the inspection company named in the contract
- For kernels: certificate of analysis covering the tests your market requires (for example moisture and aflatoxin)
- Insurance certificate (CIF) and any other document your contract or your customs require
Our guide to cashew export certification in Tanzania explains each step of the export file.
What to include in your inquiry
- Product: raw cashew nuts in shell, or kernels
- For raw nuts: minimum outturn (lbs per 80 kg) and maximum nut count per kg
- For kernels: size grade (for example W240 or W320), quality class and packing
- Quantity in tonnes or containers, and whether it is a single or repeat shipment
- Destination port or delivery address, and CIF or DDP
- Shipment window
- Inspection company and laboratory tests you require
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply raw cashew nuts or cashew kernels?
Both. We produce and export raw cashew nuts in shell for processors, and cashew kernels for food manufacturers, roasters and importers.
What does KOR or outturn mean for raw cashew nuts?
KOR (kernel output ratio) is the weight of good kernels, in pounds, recovered from an 80 kg bag of raw nuts in a cutting test. Tanzania’s standard grade starts at 48 lbs per 80 kg bag.
What does W240 mean?
W240 is a grade of whole cashew kernels with 220–240 kernels per pound (485–530 per kilo) under the AFI specification. Lower numbers mean larger kernels.
When are Tanzanian raw cashew nuts available?
The marketing season opens in September and the auctions start in October (19 October in the 2026/2027 season), so new-crop raw nuts are available from late October onwards.
Which port do you ship from?
Raw nuts from the southern regions ship through Mtwara Port, as the Cashewnut Board requires. Other cargo can ship through Dar es Salaam or Tanga. The port is stated in each offer.
How do I pay?
By T/T, and only after you have inspected the goods in person, are satisfied with them and have signed the contract.
What is the price of raw cashew nuts or kernels?
Prices change with each season’s auctions and depend on the outturn of raw nuts or the grade of kernels, the quantity and the delivery term. We quote per lot on request.
Ready to source cashews? Request a quotation with the product, grade, quantity and destination. See also our agricultural commodities and other seeds and nuts, including soybeans and coffee beans, or read how an order works.
