Nuts: EU spending retains record
November 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
USA with smaller market share
As recent import statistics for fresh and dried nuts show the EU spent a record EUR 5.88 billion (USD 6.80 billion) in the first three quarters of 2025, thereby continuing the trend perceived in the first half of the year. One difference, however, is that the US market share has declined from 49% in the first six months of the year to 46% in the first three quarters. Vietnam and Argentina are next in line with smaller market shares of 11% and 8.4% respectively.
Pistachios replace almonds
While EU importers spent most on almonds in the first half of the year, the picture has changed in recent months. Pistachios are the nuts with the highest import value of EUR 1.225 billion (USD 1.42 billion) in the first three quarters of the current calendar year. Main supplier is the USA with a market share of 79.6% in the current year. Turkey and Iran follow with much lower market shares of 7.2% each.
EU almond imports exceed EUR 1 billion (USD 1.161 billion). The USA have a near trade monopoly with the EU by accounting for a staggering 94.9% of the total import value this year so far. Australia (2.7%) and Vietnam (0.4%) have almost negligible shares.
Popular cashews and walnuts
EU spending on cashews rose to a record EUR 908 million (USD 1 billion) between January and September 2025. Vietnam accounts for the lion’s share (70%) of the EU’s total import value, followed by the Ivory Coast (15.7%) and India (5.6%).
EU spending on walnuts also reached a record EUR 793 million (USD 918 million) in the first nine months of the year. Main supplier is the USA (54%), which accounts for more than half of the EU’s import value in the current year. Chile (19.8%) and China (11.5%) rank second and third.
Backlashes for peanuts and hazelnuts
Peanuts are the only nut for which EU spending fell in the first three quarters of 2025 as compared with the same period last year. Argentina is the leading trading partner (63%), followed by China (12%) and the USA (8%).
EU importers also spent a record amount of EUR 533 million (USD 617 million) on hazelnuts in Q1 to Q3. With a share of 45% in the total EU import value Chile has become the main supplier for the EU in 2025. Turkey as the world’s largest producer now only ranks second (30.2%) and the USA third (10.3%).
Pecans may show another record spending spree as the import value has risen to EUR 137 million (USD 159 million), but in the annual comparison the import value has risen by a comparatively moderate 13%. While the USA account for 51.8% of the import value, Mexico is close behind with 43.6%. South Africa ranks third with a much smaller share (3.9).
EU spending on pine nuts rose by 21% in the first three quarters of the current calendar year. China accounts for 77% of the import value with Turkey (11%) and Russia (5%) next in line.
Brazil nut spending has surged to a record approaching EUR 100 million (USD 116 million). Bolivia is the main supplier by far (84.6%), followed by Peru (11%) and Brazil (2.8%).
For macadamia nuts the import value has also reached a record EUR 84 million (USD 97 million). South Africa thereby accounts for 56.9%, Kenya for 23.8% and Australia for 7.8%.
Kola nuts barely have an import value of EUR 2 million (USD 2.31 million) and only show a single-digit rise of 5%. Main suppliers are the Ivory Coast (28.1%), India (21.3%) and Jamaica (12.4%).
|
EU nut imports (EUR) |
|||
|
Product |
2024 |
2025 |
Diff. |
|
Pistachios |
864,961,003 |
1,224,817,047 |
41.6% |
|
Almonds |
779,486,347 |
1,172,237,217 |
50.4% |
|
Cashews |
718,791,312 |
908,137,965 |
26.3% |
|
Walnuts |
497,019,182 |
793,010,656 |
59.6% |
|
Peanuts |
809,333,069 |
768,688,223 |
-5.0% |
|
Hazelnuts |
359,662,265 |
569,250,725 |
58.3% |
|
Pecans |
121,219,332 |
137,117,568 |
13.1% |
|
Pine nuts |
108,783,404 |
131,329,565 |
20.7% |
|
Brazil nuts |
62,211,113 |
91,051,723 |
46.4% |
|
Macadamia nuts |
47,460,240 |
84,154,318 |
77.3% |
|
Kola nuts |
1,822,679 |
1,910,528 |
4.8% |
|
Others |
1,652,394 |
1,994,457 |
20.7% |
|
Total |
4,372,402,339 |
5,883,699,992 |
34.6% |
|
DG TAXUD Customs Surveillance, 01/01-28/09 |
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