Cashew nut biz

How to Start a Cashew Nut Export Business


Do you reside in a region where cashew nuts are in abundance and you want to make money out of this abundance? Are you interested in starting a cashew nut export business but you don’t know how to go about it?

Do you need a sample cashew nut export business plan template? If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then I advice you read on.

Lately, I have been receiving a lot of calls with respect to exporting. So I have decided to give more focus on exporting and issues surrounding it. Now let’s get back to the business of the day.

Cashew is a juicy fruit that bears a kidney-shaped nut, which is edible only when roasted. The demand for this fruit is huge in virtually all parts of the world, but majority of the world’s cashew comes from Africa. Interestingly many people who consume roasted cashew nuts do not know where they are grown or that they grow on trees.



The huge global demand for cashew nuts has led to increased rates of cashew production in Africa and other cashew-producing parts of the world as well as increased exportation to various parts of the world. However, the annual global demand for the commodity far exceeds the supply, which means there is enough room for new players in the cashew nut exportation business.

If you have been looking to start an export business related to agriculture, then starting a cashew nut export business might be your best option. If this idea sounds good to you—and you would like to take a plunge, then I advice you follow these guidelines for starting a successful cashew nut export business.

How to Start a Cashew Nut Export Business – Sample Business Plan Template
1. Conduct market research

When you are just plunging into a business that you know nothing about, you need to research extensively to understand how things work. This is always the first step I recommend for export beginners.

A good way to start your research is to contact a seasoned cashew nut exporter to make inquiries about the business. You will need to find out:



The required startup costs
How to find local sellers (suppliers)
How to find buyers in foreign countries
How to identify high quality cashew nuts
How to process and package your nuts for shipping
How to choose a shipping company and agent, and so on.
Equipping yourself adequately with relevant information about the business will help you plan your business well and avoid all the pitfalls associated with starting and running the business.

2. Determine your target market

A crucial part of starting any export business is figuring out where the export commodities are going—and the cashew nut export business is no exception. It is important you decide which countries you will be exporting cashew nuts to.

When you are just starting out, it is recommended that you stick with just one country that has a good market for the commodity. As your business grows with time, you can consider targeting more countries. It goes without saying that your ideal export destinations are those countries where there is little or no production of cashew nuts, but the demand is high.

3. Find local sellers



You need to find local cashew nut sellers from whom you will buy the commodity. That is, these local sellers will be your suppliers. Be sure to have more than one supplier, so you can turn to others should one of them run out of the commodity.

You must also bear in mind that the success of your business hinges largely on the quality of cashew nuts you sell to exporters, so ensure that your chosen suppliers have a reputation for high quality cashew nuts.

High quality cashew nuts may cost a bit higher than the low quality ones. However, paying the extra costs for high quality cashew nuts will help your business build a good reputation and win more buyers easily in the long term.

4. Find a shipping company or agent

Since you will ship your cashew nuts to the desired export destination, you will need the services of a shipping company. Find out the best shipping company.
More to come.
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