<p></p><p>High input costs continue to cause a decline in Indian cashew nut exports this current fiscal year, while the import of raw nuts has witnessed an upsurge. <br></p> <p>During April 2015-January 2016, shipments of cashew stood at 84,424 tons valued at ` 41 billion at an average unit value of ` 490.84 a kg. Whereas, in the corresponding period last fiscal exports were at 1,00,208 tons valued at ` 45.35 billion at a unit value of ` 452.60/kg. <br></p> <p>Shipments in January stood at 6,649 tons valued at ` 3.58 billion at a unit value of ` 539.33 against 10,431 tons valued at ` 4.87 billion at a unit value of ` 467.24 in January 2015. <br></p> <p>High processing costs due to an increase in imported raw nut prices coupled with a rise in wages has pushed the kernel prices up affecting the exports, Sundaran Prabha, Chairman, Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), told BusinessLine.</p> <p>He attributed the rise in RCN prices to the unhealthy and unscrupulous activities by the trade. Therefore, he said, the CEPCI has urged the Union Commerce Ministry to bring in some control over imports and such trading activities. <br></p> <p>Despite high unit value, import of raw cashew nuts (RCN) showed an upsurge in January. During the month, 41,693 tons of RCN were imported at a unit value of ` 113 a kg against 27,249 tons at a unit value of ` 89/kg in January 2015. <br></p> <p>In January, the world cashew market was steady with reasonable activity in all markets. <br></p> <p>Current price range is W240 $ 3.85-4, W320 $3.55-3.70, W450 $3.45-3.60, SW320 $3.40-3.50, Splits $3.20-3.35, Pieces $3-3.15 per lb (fob). <br></p> <p>(1 Indian Rupee= 0.015 USD)<br></p><p></p>