In every cashew processing facility, a sorting decision is made for every single kernel: export or domestic. This decision is based on objective criteria — colour, size, wholeness, moisture — but its consequences are enormous. Export grade and commercial grade cashews are fundamentally different products.
The Grading Decision
After shelling and peeling, cashew kernels are sorted on a vibrating grader, then hand-inspected by trained sorters. The sorter's task is to identify defects: scorching (brown or black marks from the shelling process), broken kernels, stained kernels, undersized kernels, and any sign of mould or insect damage. In our facility, approximately 15–18% of every incoming batch is redirected to the domestic market after this inspection. The remainder — the white whole grades that meet export specifications — is what leaves Panruti with our name on it.
Key Differences
Colour and Appearance
Export grade (W-grade) cashews are uniformly pale ivory. Commercial grade cashews include scorched wholes (SW), desert scorched (DS), lightly blemished (LBW), and other categories that tolerate visible discolouration. These are perfectly safe to eat — they simply do not meet the visual standards of export buyers.
Moisture Content
Export grade: maximum 5% moisture. Commercial grade: up to 9% permissible. Higher moisture means shorter shelf life — an export product must survive a minimum 6-month shelf life across international shipping conditions. Commercial cashews sold domestically have a shorter supply chain and can tolerate higher moisture.
Breakage Rate
Export whole grades (WW) permit a maximum of 5% broken pieces within the batch. Commercial grade "pieces" (P-grades) are intentionally broken and graded by size. Pieces are not a lower quality product — they are a different product category, used in confectionery, ice cream, and cooking where appearance is irrelevant.
"The distinction between export and commercial grade is not about the tree or the farmer. It is about what happened after harvest. The processing quality — the speed, the care, the sorting rigour — determines which direction a kernel travels."
— Rajasingucashews Quality Brief, 2025Documentation
Export grade cashews require comprehensive documentation: FSSAI compliance, APEDA registration, phytosanitary certificate, lab test reports, Certificate of Origin, and packing lists conforming to the importing country's requirements. Commercial grade domestic supply requires only FSSAI compliance. The documentation burden for export is substantially higher — which is why many processors avoid it.
Why It Matters for Import Buyers
If you are sourcing cashews for retail in Europe, the USA, or the Gulf, export grade is not optional — it is a legal requirement. EU regulations on aflatoxin, moisture, and labelling are strict. US FDA import regulations require full HACCP documentation. UAE and Saudi food safety standards mandate specific certification chains. Commercial grade cashews that do not meet these standards can be seized at the border.
Every Rajasingucashews export shipment includes: APEDA Registration Certificate · FSSAI Licence · Phytosanitary Certificate (issued by Dept. of Agriculture, GoI) · Certificate of Origin (Chamber of Commerce) · Lab Test Report (NABL-accredited) · Packing List · Commercial Invoice · Bill of Lading
The additional cost and effort of export-grade production is substantial. We absorb it because we believe that the buyer who receives a Rajasingucashews shipment deserves to open it and find exactly what was promised — every time.
