News Service

Oct 03, 2026. Cashew kernel prices are showing a mild upward trend in early October, supported by higher raw cashew nut costs in Vietnam and steady demand from European buyers. Vietnamese FOB prices for premium grades such as WW240 and WW320 have increased by around €0.05/kg over the past week, while Dutch FCA prices have also moved slightly higher on steady nearby demand. For Indian buyers and processors, the firmer international trend could provide some support to domestic cashew prices, particularly for premium whole kernels. However, cautious downstream demand may limit any sharp increase in the short term. Vietnamese sellers are largely defending current offers as replacement costs remain elevated, while European buyers continue to replenish Q4 requirements. With supply conditions stable and no major weather disruptions, the market is expected to remain sideways to slightly firmer over the coming week. Overall, Indian cashew traders are likely to closely watch Vietnam’s FOB offers and European buying activity, as any further rise in international prices could gradually strengthen domestic market sentiment.

Oct. 03, 2026: India’s makhana market is witnessing abundant raw-material availability this season following an estimated 50% increase in cultivation area. Around 70% of the raw crop is reportedly still available at producing centres, putting pressure on farmgate and raw-makhana prices. Despite the surplus, finished makhana prices remain comparatively firm due to limited processing capacity, which has not expanded in line with the increase in production. Finished Purnia-line makhana is currently indicated at around USD 5.93–6.98/kg, depending on quality, while premium grades continue to command higher values. The upcoming festival season is expected to support domestic demand and provide near-term stability to finished-product prices. The current market situation highlights a clear gap between raw supply and processing capacity. The issue is not a shortage of raw makhana, but the limited ability to process, grade and supply consistent finished material. Quality, sizing, moisture control and reliable processing are becoming increasingly important for exporters and branded buyers, helping premium-quality makhana maintain stronger prices. In the near term, festival demand and constrained processing capacity are expected to keep finished makhana prices broadly stable, while raw prices may remain under pressure because of heavy availability. However, once the festive buying season fades, increased processing of accumulated raw stocks could lead to higher finished-product availability and renewed price pressure.

Oct 02 2026. India’s coffee exports maintained strong momentum in the first half of FY27, with shipments rising 25% to over 2.42 lakh tonne during April-September 2026, supported by firm demand in international markets. According to Coffee Board data, exports increased from 1.93 lakh tonne in the same period last year to 2.42 lakh tonne this year. In dollar terms, however, export earnings grew at a slower pace of 10% to $1.17 billion, compared with $1.06 billion a year earlier, amid volatility in global coffee prices. In rupee terms, export earnings rose 21% to Rs 11,118 crore, against Rs 9,164 crore in the corresponding period last year. Despite the rise in shipment volumes and export value, the average realisation declined to Rs 4.59 lakh per tonne, compared with Rs 4.72 lakh per tonne a year earlier. The decline reflects the impact of fluctuations in international coffee prices on the value earned by exporters. The positive export trend has continued across the broader calendar year as well. During January-September 2026, India’s coffee exports increased 24% to 3.67 lakh tonne, while export earnings rose around 11% to $1.79 billion. Shipments of Arabica parchment increased 33%, while Robusta cherry exports grew 28%, indicating sustained demand across different varieties of Indian coffee. The country is also seeing growing interest in value-added coffee products, with instant coffee exports increasing 25.5% during the January-September period. Italy remained among the major destinations for Indian coffee, followed by markets such as Germany, Russia and the UAE. India has established a strong presence in the global coffee trade, with a significant share of its domestic production directed towards overseas markets. Indian Robusta is particularly valued for its blending qualities, while processed and instant coffee are gaining importance as exporters look to capture greater value from shipments. The government and industry are also encouraging exports of value-added coffee in retail packs and seeking to expand the presence of Indian coffee in markets such as the US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The latest export figures indicate that strong international demand is supporting higher shipment volumes, although global price volatility continues to affect exporters’ earnings and per-tonne realisation. With rising shipments of both traditional and processed coffee, India’s coffee industry is increasingly focusing on expanding its global market presence while moving towards higher-value export opportunities.

California’s almond crop is expected to decline by around 5% this year, with total production estimated at nearly 2.55-2.60 billion pounds, according to almond grower Van Family Orchards. However, the bigger concern for the market is not just the lower crop but the smaller size of the kernels, which could affect the availability and pricing of premium-grade almonds. California is one of the world’s leading almond-producing regions, while India remains a major buyer of California almonds. Any significant change in production, quality or kernel size could therefore have a direct impact on India’s import market and domestic prices in the coming months. According to Van Family Orchards, harvesting began much earlier than normal this season and is progressing rapidly. Around 93% of the crop has already been shaken from the trees, while about 86% has been harvested. The company expects harvesting to be completed within the next seven to 10 days, making it one of the earliest finishes in its history. Quality, however, has remained encouraging. The share of damaged or seriously defective almonds in the raw crop was reported at just 0.6%, one of the lowest levels recorded by the company. The kernels are described as well-filled, round and with limited shrivel. Despite the good quality, kernel sizes are running about one grade smaller than last year. The average sizes reported for key varieties were 27/30 for Nonpareil, 23/25 for Independence and 34/36 for Butte/Padre. A comparison of around 15,000 acres also showed that processed production was nearly 20% lower than last year. Nonpareil production was down about 23%, while Independence recorded an increase of around 5%. The higher proportion of smaller kernels is emerging as the key market concern. Van Family Orchards estimates that in the major production belt stretching from Madera to Kern County, which accounts for roughly 60% of the state’s crop, around half or more of the crop is coming in at 30/32 size or smaller. For India, the development is particularly important ahead of the festive and winter demand season, when almond consumption typically increases. Indian importers and consumers generally prefer larger, attractive kernels. A shortage of larger sizes could therefore result in a price premium for bigger and better-quality almonds, even if overall supplies remain relatively comfortable. At the same time, increased availability of smaller kernels could keep prices of those grades comparatively softer. This may lead to a wider price difference between large and small-sized almonds in the Indian market rather than a uniform increase across all grades. Another factor to watch will be the pace at which the new crop is absorbed by international buyers. If export demand remains strong while supplies of larger kernels stay limited, prices for premium grades could face upward pressure. Conversely, weaker global demand could limit the extent of any price rise despite the smaller crop.