Middle East: Cashew Nut Market 2025

Cashew Nut Market Size in the Middle East

The Middle Eastern cashew nut market dropped sharply to $X in 2021, with a decrease of -25.9% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption, however, showed buoyant growth. Over the period under review, the market attained the peak level at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Cashew Nut Production in the Middle East

In value terms, cashew nut production stood at $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production continues to indicate buoyant growth. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 with an increase of 381%. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2017 to 2021, production growth remained at a lower figure.

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2021 were Iran (X tons), Oman (X tons) and Jordan (X tons), together accounting for 81% of total production. Bahrain, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 19%.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were in Israel (with a CAGR of +11.3%), while production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Cashew Nut Exports

Exports in the Middle East

Cashew nut exports rose modestly to X tons in 2021, picking up by 4.7% against the year before. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a abrupt shrinkage. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 with an increase of 385%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, cashew nut exports soared to $X in 2021. In general, exports, however, recorded a perceptible slump. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 199% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

The United Arab Emirates (X tons) and Saudi Arabia (X tons) were the main exporters of cashew nuts in 2021, reaching near 36% and 33% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Israel (X tons), achieving a 20% share of total exports. Turkey (X tons), Palestine (X tons), Oman (X tons) and Lebanon (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were in Lebanon (with a CAGR of +20.5%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X), Saudi Arabia ($X) and Israel ($X) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, together comprising 94% of total exports.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Saudi Arabia, with a CAGR of +24.6%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, rising by 16% against the previous year. Overall, the export price continues to indicate a strong increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when the export price increased by 255%. Over the period under review, the export prices reached the peak figure in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton), while Palestine ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United Arab Emirates (+20.2%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Cashew Nut Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, purchases abroad of cashew nuts decreased by -31.7% to X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Total imports indicated a temperate increase from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when imports increased by 34%. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2020, and then declined notably in the following year.

In value terms, cashew nut imports dropped dramatically to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports, however, posted buoyant growth. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 73% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

Saudi Arabia was the major importing country with an import of around X tons, which recorded 59% of total imports. It was distantly followed by the United Arab Emirates (X tons), making up a 27% share of total imports. Oman (X tons), Iran (X tons) and Israel (X tons) took a relatively small share of total imports.

Imports into Saudi Arabia increased at an average annual rate of +3.4% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Iran (+36.1%), Oman (+35.3%), the United Arab Emirates (+8.3%) and Israel (+2.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Iran emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +36.1% from 2012-2021. The United Arab Emirates (+8.4 p.p.), Oman (+3.1 p.p.) and Iran (+2.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Saudi Arabia saw its share reduced by -2.1% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X), the United Arab Emirates ($X) and Israel ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, together comprising 93% of total imports. Oman and Iran lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 2.2%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Iran, with a CAGR of +30.9%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, picking up by 3.1% against the previous year. Over the last nine years, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.0%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 an increase of 41% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton), while Iran ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Saudi Arabia (+6.6%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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