Nuts: EU imports slow at record high

EU spending maintains record

In the first three quarters of 2026 EU importers spent a record EUR 6.4 billion (USD 7.1 billion) on shelled and in-shell nuts as the European Commission’s Weekly Taxud Imports issued by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG Agri) show. Although this is 5% up on the EUR 6 billion (USD 6.7 billion) noted in the same period in 2025, the rise pales in comparison to the double-digit spikes witnessed last year indicating that EU spending is stabilising at a very high level.

With a market share of 47% the US is the main trading partner for the EU. Vietnam (10%), Chile (9%) and Argentina (6%) are next in line, followed by China (5%), Turkey (4%) and Côte d’Ivoire (4%). Within the EU, Germany accounts for 30% of the total EU import value with Italy (20%), the Netherlands (18%) and Spain (14%) next in line. France (5%), Belgium (3%) and Poland (3%) hold much smaller shares.

Key take-ways are that:

• spending has slowed at a record high for pistachios
• almonds have only witnessed a small recovery
• hazelnuts are a spending sensation
• peanuts are showing the sharpest decline
• Mexico has maintained its lead over the US for pecans

Pistachios

At 132,279 mt worth EUR 1.27 billion (USD 1.41 billion) EU pistachio imports have reached a record. Yet, they only range a bit higher than the 130,158 mt worth EUR 1.26 billion (USD 1.4 billion) recorded in the first three quarters of 2025. Main trading partner is the US with a market share of 85%, followed by Iran and Jordan with much smaller shares of 5% and 3%. Germany is the main buyer within the EU accounting for 31% of the EU’s total import value in the first nine months of 2026. Next in line are Spain (15%) and Belgium (12%).

Almonds

For almonds, EU imports stand at 221,091 mt worth EUR 1.26 billion (USD 1.4 billion). Although the import value has recovered by 6% and has nearly caught up with pistachios, it still stands lower than the record amounts of EUR 1.37 billion (USD 1.53 billion) and EUR 1.25 billion (USD 1.39 billion) spent in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The import volume also ranges a bit lower than the 221,952 mt recorded between January and September 2025. With a market share of 96% the US hold a near monopoly in the EU. Australia as the second most important trading partner only accounts for 3% of the EU’s total import value this year so far. Within the EU, Spain is the largest buyer with a market share of 29%, closely followed by Germany (23%) and Italy (19%).

Hazelnuts

EU spending on shelled and in-shell hazelnuts has surged by 59% to an absolute record in the first nine months of the year prompting. Importers have now, in fact, spent more on hazelnuts than on cashews causing the nut to rank third after pistachios and almonds. In terms of volume, the EU also imported a record 95,034 mt, which is a more moderate 15% up on the 82,673 mt registered in the first three quarters of 2025. Chile and the US have replaced Turkey as the main EU trading partners. Chile accounts for 48% of the EU’s total import value in 2026 so far, followed by the US with 20% and Turkey with just under 20%. Within the EU Italy is the main buyer accounting for 54% of the EU’s total import value. Next in line are Germany (30%) and Poland (4%).

Cashews

EU cashew nut imports may have flatlined at a high value. In terms of volume they have, however, climbed by 3% to a record 150,748 mt as compared with last year’s 146,232 mt. In holding a market share of 69% Vietnam has remained the most important trading partner. Côte d’Ivoire’s market share as leading producing country has grown in recent years and currently stands at 21%. India only accounts for 3% of the EU’s total import value. Within the EU Germany is the leading buyer (37%), followed by the Netherlands (27%) and Spain (8%).

Walnuts

EU importers may have spent 10% less on shelled and in-shell walnuts in the first three quarters than they did last year, yet the import value still is the second highest on record. By contrast, the import volume has risen by 2% to a record 153,403 mt as compared with last year’s 150,376 mt. Main trading partner are the US with a market share of 59%, followed by Chile (17%) and China (14%). In accounting for 41% of the EU’s total import value in the first three quarters of 2026 Germany is the main EU buying country with Spain (15%) and Italy (14%) next in line.

Peanuts

For peanuts the 21% decline in the EU import value is more pronounced than for walnuts. In terms of volume imports have, however, only slipped by 2%, from 512,795 mt in the first nine months of 2025 to 501,911 mt in the same period in 2026. With a market share of 63% Argentina is the main supplying country by far. China (10%) and Egypt (75) are next in line. Within the EU, the Netherlands (49%) are the main importing member state, followed by Spain (9%) and Poland (8%).

Pecans

EU pecan imports have surged by 42% to a record value. In terms of volume, they range 25% higher at 17,600 mt as compared with the 14,061 mt recorded in the first three quarters of last year. Mexico accounts for 52% of the EU import value and has thereby replaced the US, which holds a market share of 42%, as the main trading partner. This development started in the second quarter of 2026 when Mexico held the lead over the US for the first time on record with a market share of 52%. In the EU, Germany (36%) and the Netherlands (35%) are the main EU importing member states, followed by Spain (10%).

Pine nuts

For shelled and in-shell pine nuts the EU import value has risen sharply by 26% to a record high. By contrast, the import volume has dipped by 5%, from 7,665 mt in the first nine months of 2025 to 7,296 mt in the same period in the current calendar year. With 79% China accounted for the lion’s share of the EU’s total import value in the first three quarters. Turkey holds 16% and Lebanon as little as 2%. Germany accounts for as much as 51% of the EU’s import value with Italy (25%) and Spain (7) ranking second and third.

Macadamias

Although EU macadamia nut imports have declined a bit by 3%, the value still is the second highest on record. Contrary to this, the EU import volume has inched up a bit by 2% to a record 7,972 mt. South Africa (49%), Kenya (29%) and Australia (9%) are the main trading partners for the EU in terms of value. The Netherlands (46%), Germany (27%) and Spain (11%) are the main buyers.

Brazil nuts

After surging to a record last year, EU Brazil nut imports are displaying a 14% downturn to the second highest value on record. In terms of volume, imports peaked at 10,779 mt in the first three quarters of 2024, before declining to 8,734 mt in the same period in 2025 and dipping further to 7,914 mt in the 2026. With a market share of 79% Bolivia has remained the main trading partner for the EU in terms of value this year so far. Peru (11%) and Brazil (7%) are sporting much smaller shares. The Netherlands (45%) are the main destination within the EU, followed by Germany (30%) and Spain (10%).

Kola nuts

Kola nuts have witnessed a remarkable near thirty-fold rise in EU spending in the first three quarters of 2026 as compared with the same period last year. In terms of volume, EU imports have, however, declined sharply by 56%, from 608 mt in January to September 2025 to 269 mt in the first nine months of 2026. Trading almost exclusively occurs between Côte d’Ivoire (99%) and France (99%).

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