VALUE CHAIN #

Cashew Value Chain

Cashew nuts are classed as follows:

 

Cashew apple
The cashew apple, at up to 9 cm in length, is the pear-shaped, swollen, soft, shiny yellow or red, fleshy stem of the cashew nut proper. The cashew apple itself is not suitable for transport and storage.

The cashew nut
The cashew nut is a stone fruit, which grows out of the bottom of the cashew apple, is approx. 2 – 2.5 cm long, kidney-shaped, yellowish-reddish in color and has a hard shell with a single kernel with a delicate aroma. It is removed from the cashew apple after harvesting and sun- or hot air-dried, the shell then becoming detached to reveal the kernel proper.

The cashew kernel
This is surrounded by a fine, brown seed coat, which contains antioxidants which protect the kernel from penetration by atmospheric oxygen so preventing it from becoming rancid (oxidative rancidity).

Cashew nuts are also known as anacardium nuts.

Oil content: 45 – 50% http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/nuesse/cashew/cashew.htm

 

Commercial cashew plantations started in Nigeria in the early 1950s with the establishment of first commercial plantations at Oghe, Oji and Mbala by the defunct Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC) and Iwo, Eruwa and Upper Ogun by the defunct Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC).

From these locations, the planting of the crop spread to other parts of Nigeria particularly the Central and Northern States of Nigeria. Research on cashew production and its uses started at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan in 1971.

The introduction of Brazilian cashew biotype with improved and desirable nut and kernel quality characteristics by CRIN has further increased the crops spread and popularity in Nigeria.

 

 

Cashew is national crop and is grown in 19 states;

Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Niger, Nassarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Taraba and Kwara.

However, cashew can be grown in almost all the states of Nigeria. The Nation curently produces 120,000 tons of Cashew Nut annually and has capacity for much more.

 

The commodity of commercial importance is the nut, which contains 47% fat, 21% protein and 22% carbohydrate.

It also contains vitamins, especially thiamine. Cashew nut proteins are complete, having all the essential amino acids and a kilogramme of the nut yields about 6000 calories compared to 3600 calories from cereals, 1800 calories from meat and 650 calories from fresh citrus fruit.

Because of these qualities, the nuts are in great demand and at Foraminifera Market Research we seek to expose the investment opportunity available in the export of the commodity through this report.

Worldwide, trade in cashews exceeds US$2 billion and demand is increasing. Of the total world supply, 110 000 tonnes are traded on international markets. There is great investment opportunity for the processing and export of the commodity in Nigeria.

There is an urgent need for the injection of more funds by the Government into the Nigerian cashew processing sector in order to add value to the products such that processed kernels are exported. The Nigerian cashew nuts are of high quality and its processed kernels have wide acceptability in European and American markets.

The return on investment on the export of raw cashew nuts is estimated between 10%- 15%.

 

 

Cashew Exporters

To get list of cashew exporters visit

https://www.vconnect.com/nigeria/list-of-cashew-nut-exporters_c1088

https://www.finelib.com/business/food/nigerian-foodstuffs/cashew-nuts-dealers

 

 

Cashew Nut Process Equipments

 

Cashew cooking system

Boiler & Cooker

All Capacities 30, 60,160,320, 500, 1000 kgs and any other higher capacity Projects as per customer requirement can be executed on Turnkey Basis.

 

 

Cashew Shell Cutting

Automatic Cashew Shell Cutting Machine

• Gross weight – 110 Kg
• Voltage Rating – 240 V (Single Phase)
• Motor Power – 0.5 HP
• Loading on feeding cutter – 15 Kg
• Production rate – 20 Kg/ Hr
• All Parts in MS

 

Cashew Drying System

Tray Dryer
Number of Trays for various capacities:

• 12 Trays Drier
• 24 Trays Drier
• 48 Trays Drier
• 96 Trays Drier
• 192 Trays Drier
• All Parts in MS

and any other higher capacity Projects as per customer requirement can be executed on Turnkey Basis.

 

Cashew Humidifier 

Humidifier (Heavy Duty)
Swivelling type humidifier with 0.75H. P. 2800 RPM with 3phase motor & gear box

 

Cashew Kernel Peeling Machine

Cashew Nut Peeling Machine:

• Capacity – 80 Kg/Hr
• Material – Internal made by Stainless steel
• Air Compressor required– 15 HP
• Air Pressure – 6.5 to 7.5 Kg/Cm2

 

Cashew Kernel Dust Cleaner

Dust Collector:

• Ms Body
• ½ Hp Motor, Single phase
• Dust Collector – To remove fine powder after peeling

 

Cashew Kernel Grading Machine 

Cashew Kernel Grading Machine

• Gradation capacity :100 kg per hour
• Power consumption: Single phase A/C 102 Watts
• Number of Grading: SIX (6)

 

Cashew Kernel Separator

Cashew Kernel Separator

• Gross weight – 100 Kg
• Voltage Rating – 415 V (Three Phase)
• Motor Power – 0.25 HP
• Production rate – 300 Kg/ Hr
• All Parts in SS

 

Cashew Tin Filling Machine
We supply Tin filling machine for tin filling of cashew kernels
vacuum Filing Machine

Vita Packing Machine:

Co2 / Nitrogen filling
Vita packing machine with vacuum pump with Motor bell jar assembly, gauges, values and necessary fitting. Complete unit made of MS angle frame and painted.

Pouch Packing Machine

We supply pouch Packing Machine’s for packing the cashew kernels, Range: 50gms – 5kgs

Cashew Peeling and Grading Tables

Cashew Kernel Coating Pan

 

Cashew Kernel Coating Pan
We supply the Coating Pan machine for coating (Salt, Spice, …etc ) the cashew Kernels for value addition
Pan size :- 12″ – 48″ Dia. 

Oil Expeller

We are successfully catering the varying needs of our clients. We are known for delivery efficient Oil Expellers low cost. Oil Expellers very useful to crush variety of Raw Cashew Shells. http://www.bestengineeringtechnologies.com/cashew-nut-process-plant-equipment.html

 

The following sites can be checked for suppliers of machinery for cashew processing

https://dir.indiamart.com/impcat/cashew-processing-machine.html

 

Product Specifications:

 

Quality:

The basic quality requirements for cashew-nut kernels are defined by the following criteria.

• Style: whole (kernels with no more than 1/8 of the kernel broken off are considered as whole), broken (butts, splits and pieces)
• Presence of insects, mould, rancidity, spots or blemishes
• Taste and flavour

Specific cashew-nut quality requirements are defined by the following criteria.

• Class

Classification of cashew nuts is not officially defined in the European Union. However, the classification by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is widely used, where cashew nuts are classified into three main classes: ‘Extra Class’, ‘Class I’ and ‘Class II’. This classification is made according to the allowed defects and the colour of the kernel skin. The main producing countries India, Brazil and Vietnam also have a classification.

• Grading

Grading categories for cashew nuts are not officially defined in the European Union. The most frequently used grading classification comes from UNECE and is also correspondent to the United States cashew nuts standards. In this standard, grades are defined by the number of cashew nuts in one pound (0.454 kg) or in one kilogram (for example 210 per pound equals 465 per kilogram).

• Special Characteristics

In practice quality and price of product is usually determined by the characteristics of cashew nuts which combine style of the product (whole, splits or pieces) with grade and look of the skin. The skin may be white, or to some degree scorched (darkened during the process of roasting shells before taking kernels out of the shells).

 

Labelling

The name of the product must be shown on the label, and read either ‘cashew nuts kernels’ or ‘cashew nuts’. Other trade names regarding form can be used in addition to ‘cashew nuts kernels’. It is common that export packaging labelling also includes the crop year.

Information about non-retail packaging has to be given either on the packaging or in accompanying documents. Bulk packaging labelling must contain the following information:

• name of the product
• lot identification
• name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor or importer
• storage instructions (storage and transport instructions are very important due to high oil content which can negatively influence the quality of product if not handled properly).

However, lot identification, and the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor or importer may be replaced by an identification mark.

In the case of retail packaging, product labelling must be in compliance with the European Union Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. This regulation defines nutrition labelling, origin labelling, allergen labelling and legibility (minimum font size for mandatory information) more clearly.

This regulation came into effect on 13 December 2014 but the obligation to provide nutrition information applies from 13 December 2016. Please note that according to this regulation, cashew nuts are listed as products causing allergies or intolerances and therefore allergen advice must be clearly visible on the retail packaging.

 

Packaging

There is no general rule for the export size of the packaging of cashew nuts, but the most common type of export packaging is polysacks (10–25 kg). Cashew nuts are also packaged in such things as boxes or cartons containing two sealed tinplate canisters to protect the product from autoxidation.

 

Which European markets offer opportunities for exporters of cashew nuts?

The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom are currently the largest import markets and they offer good opportunities for developing countries exporters of cashew nuts. Furthermore, large markets opportunities can be found in the growing markets of Central and eastern Europe.

  #

Imports #

Increasing imports from developing country

• In the long term, the European market for cashew nuts is expected to grow steadily. This growth is likely to be driven by changes in consumption patterns of European consumers including rising demand for vegetable sources of protein to replace meat.
• Regular fluctuations in imports will continue to be influenced by the harvested crops rather than changes in demand.
• European imports of cashew nuts into Europe increased annually by the average rate of 14% in values and 11% in volume in the last five years (2011–2015).
• Many of the importing countries starting to import cashew nuts directly rather than through intermediaries. Imports from developing countries are growing more rapidly than from other European countries.
• In 2015, the value of import of cashew nuts reached €1.17 billion and 172 thousand tonnes.

 

Netherlands and Germany leading importers

• The European import market for cashew nuts is very concentrated and the two largest importers (the Netherlands and Germany) accounted for more than 50% of total imports. Both countries are big consumers of cashew nuts and they are also transit countries for other European destinations.
• Large shares of cashew nuts are re-exported from the Dutch port of Rotterdam to other European countries (around 28 thousand tonnes). Other important ports for cashew nuts are Hamburg in Germany and Felixstowe and Tilbury in the United Kingdom.
• Central and eastern European countries are increasing imports of cashew nuts faster than western Europe. Within Europe, the countries with the highest annual import growth in quantity of cashew nuts in the last five years were Lithuania (42%), Poland (31%), Austria (30%), Bulgaria (29%) and Romania (27%).
• Import of in-shell cashew nuts is insignificant in Europe; imports of shelled unprocessed cashew nuts represents more than 99% of European imports.
• Examples of cashew nuts importers are Amberwood Trading, Global Trading and Voicevale.

 

Consumption

• In terms of value, apparent consumption of edible nuts is increasing by an average annual rate of 9%, but in the last three years this increase was even larger.
• The largest European consumer of cashew nuts in Europe is Germany which had a total consumption of more than 23,000 tonnes and estimated consumption of 1.13 kg of cashew nuts per capita in 2014. However, the Netherlands is the largest European consumer of cashew nuts per capita at 1.55 kg. Other major consuming countries are the United Kingdom (with a total consumption of 16,000 tonnes), France (10,000 tonnes) and Italy (7,000 tonnes).
• Cashew-nut consumption as a snack is seasonal in Europe and in winter months it reaches a peak, with consumption then falling towards the summer. The winter cashew-nut consumption peak is connected with the Christmas and New Year holidays in European countries.
• The outlook for the consumption of cashew nuts in Europe is positive, with stable growth expected. A driving factor in this expected growth is an increased interest in healthy eating, as cashew nuts are a source of protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fats. They are considered a source of unsaturated fats that benefit the heart, and a good source of zinc, copper, iron and magnesium.
• Cashew nuts belong to the more premium segment of nut snacks and reach much higher prices than, for instance, peanuts.

 

Packaging requirements

 

Packaging used for cashew nuts must:

• protect the appearance, taste, flavour and quality characteristics of the product. Cashew nuts in bags must not be stowed together with fibres or fibrous materials, either, since oil-impregnated fibres accelerate self-heating processes and rancidity
• protect the product from bacteriological and other contamination (including contamination from the packaging material itself); when container transport is used, damage due to moisture may arise if the water content of the cargo is too high
• not pass on any odour, taste, colour or other foreign characteristics to the product; cashew nuts are sensitive to unpleasant and/or pungent odours.

The safety of food contact materials must be evaluated and it must be ensured that there is no migration of unsafe levels of chemical substances from the material to the food. https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/processed-fruit-vegetables-edible-nuts/cashew-nuts/europe/

 

 

Transport

Symbols

General cargo

Temperature-controlled

Means of transport
Ship

Truck

railroad

Container transport

Use Ventilated containers (coffee containers), if the lower limits set for the water content of goods, packaging and flooring and the oil content of the goods are complied with and if protection against solar radiation is ensured (risk of self-heating). Cashew kernels are predominantly shipped in containers.

Cargo handling
In damp weather (rain, snow), the cargo must be protected from moisture, since it may lead to mold, spoilage and self-heating as a result of increased respiratory activity.

No hooks should be used with bagged cargo, so as to prevent damage to the bags and loss of volume.

Storage factor
2.00 m³/t (wooden boxes, 54 kg)

2.12 – 2.27 m³/t (bags)

1.55 – 1.70 m³/t (boxes)//

 

Storage space requirements
Cool, dry, good ventilation. Do not store near heat sources.

Segregation
Marker pen, oil crayon

Cargo securing
In order to ensure safe transport, the bags must be stowed and secured in the means of transport in such a manner that they cannot slip or shift during transport. Attention must also be paid to stowage patterns which may be required as a result of special considerations, such as ventilation measures.

In the event of loading as general cargo, dunnage should be used to protect against damage:

• Floor dunnage: criss-cross dunnage and packing paper
• Side dunnage: lining with wooden dunnage and mats or jute coverings: protection from metal parts of the ship, since traces of metal promote cargo rancidity due to autoxidation.
• Top dunnage: important for voyages to cold regions (winter), since sweat may drip onto the cargo. http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/nuesse/cashew/cashew.htm