W320 — Standard wholes
300–320 kernels per pound • The highest-volume grade in global trade
Typical price
$4.55/lb FOB
India FOB. Vietnam FOB ~$4.65/lb.
Packaging
22.68 kg vacuum tins, two per 25 kg carton. Bulk options for processing buyers (200kg drum, FIBC).
MOQ
1 MT typical; 5–10 MT common for direct-to-manufacturer orders.
Why W320 is the workhorse
If a deal doesn't specify a grade, it's W320. Roughly 40–50% of all globally traded kernels by volume fall into this grade. The reason is balance: W320 is large enough to look "whole" on a snack pack or in a confectionery inclusion, but yields enough kernels per pound that the cost-per-unit works for mass retail and food manufacturing.
Visual and physical spec
- Colour: White or pale ivory. AFI Grade I tolerances apply.
- Shape: Whole kidney shape. ≤5% broken under AFI.
- Moisture: ≤5%.
- Foreign matter: ≤0.05%.
- Aflatoxin: ≤4 ppb (EU), ≤10 ppb (US).
- Defects (combined scorched + dented + speckled): ≤7.5%.
Best uses
- Standard retail snack packs (100g, 200g, 500g, 1kg)
- Mixed nuts / trail mix inclusions
- Cashew chicken, cashew curries (Asian cuisine)
- Confectionery toppings (chocolate-covered, brittle, nut bars)
- Food service bulk supply
- Cashew butter (when wholes are preferred over pieces)
W320 vs W240 — when to step up
The W240 grade trades at a 15–20% premium over W320 for kernels that are perceptibly larger but functionally similar. Step up to W240 when packaging visibility matters (premium retail, gifting, top-shelf brands) or when end-consumers see the kernel intact. Stay at W320 when the kernel is broken, chopped, or coated — the visual premium is wasted.
Sourcing notes
W320 has the deepest supplier base of any grade. Both India and Vietnam process millions of MT annually, and West African processors (Ivory Coast, Tanzania) are increasingly viable. For first-time buyers, India tends to offer the highest food-safety auditability; Vietnam offers the highest production scale and lowest unit cost.