🔹 1. Introduction
Cashew Nut Shell (CNS) is a by-product that accounts for around 65–70% of the weight of raw cashew nuts. After extracting Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL), the remaining shell residue is often underutilized. With the global transition towards renewable energy, cashew shells are increasingly used to produce biomass pellets – a sustainable fuel alternative to coal.
Vietnam, processing over 2.2 million tons of raw cashew nuts annually, generates nearly 1.4–1.5 million tons of cashew shells. This provides a stable and large raw material base to develop cashew shell pellets on an industrial scale.
⚙️ 2. Production process and technical specifications
Production steps:
- CNSL extraction – removing industrial oil content.
- Drying and grinding – preparing raw material for pelletizing.
- High-pressure pelletizing – forming uniform biomass pellets.
Technical indicators:
- 📏 Diameter: 6–8 mm
- 📐 Length: 10–30 mm
- 💧 Moisture: ≤10%
- 🔥 Calorific value: 4,200–4,800 kcal/kg
- 🌫️ Ash: 2–4%
- ♻️ Sulfur: nearly zero
- ⚖️ Bulk density: 1.1–1.3 g/cm³
🌍 3. Market demand and key buyers
- Japan: >3.5 million tons/year, strong subsidies for biomass power.
- South Korea: 2.5–3 million tons/year, Vietnam ~40% of imports.
- EU: Germany, Netherlands, Denmark promoting biomass for carbon neutrality.
- China & India: starting biomass adoption to reduce coal dependency.
💰 Export prices (FOB Vietnam):
- Wood pellets: 130–170 USD/MT
- Cashew shell pellets: 120–150 USD/MT
🏷️ 4. Certifications and requirements
- 🌱 FSC – sustainable sourcing
- 📑 ENplus A2 / ISO 17225-6 – biomass standards
- 🧪 Lab reports – calorific value, ash, moisture
- 📊 Sustainability Report – carbon footprint reduction
⚖️ 5. Comparison with wood pellets
Advantages:
✅ Lower cost (10–15% cheaper)
✅ High calorific value
✅ Supply chain synergy with cashew factories
Limitations:
⚠️ Higher ash content (2–4%)
⚠️ Less recognized → needs certification
🚀 6. Outlook and strategy for SVC
- Closed-loop value chain: CNSL → pellets → export.
- Positioning: “Green Energy from Vietnam Cashew”.
- Target markets: Japan, South Korea, EU.
- Business model: Jumbo bags (500–800kg) or bulk.
- Logistics: Ship together with cashew kernels & CNSL.
📩 Contact: thanh@svcfoods.vn for detailed inquiries.