Native to central America, cashew tree, was brought to Goa, India, by Portuguese by 1560 CE thus spreading the cultivation of cashew nuts in South Asia and later in Africa.

Cote dIvoire, India, Vietnam and Burundi are the largest producers of cashew nuts in 2019.

Oil content of greater than 45% encourages the risk of self-heating of the cargo. Because of this self-heating tendency cashew may show the behaviour like class 4.2 substances liable to spontaneous combustion.

Further cargo damage may occur due to humidity and higher temperature, mechanical damage (breakage) etc.

“Cashew nut shell extract is known as CNSL- Cashew Nut Shell Liquid. This dark/reddish brown liquid as many uses such as in friction linings, paints and varnishes, laminating resins, rubber compounding resins, cashew cements, polyurethane based polymers, surfactants, epoxy resins, foundry chemicals and intermediates for chemical industry.”

[ Source: Small Industries Service Institute www.dcmsme.gov.in/ ]