Pecans: big December dent
February 16, 2026 at 10:12 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Weak US exports
Monthly in-shell basis exports slumped by 41% from 7.8 million pounds in December 2024 to 4.6 million pounds in December 2025 with in-shell exports an astonishing 90% down at 269,663 pounds and shelled pecan exports a much more moderate 14% lower at 2.2 million pounds.
At 3.3 million pounds total in-shell exports for the season stood 44% lower than the 5.9 million pounds shipped in the same period in 2024/2025. China (-51% to 2.7 million pounds), Morocco (+33% to 263,116 pounds) and Lebanon (+339% to 184,193 pounds) along with Mexico (-18% to 181,998 pounds) were the only countries that bought US inshells.
Total in-shell exports declined by 18% to 9.2 million pounds. As exports to Canda rose by 26% the country accounted for more than 30% of US exports. By contrast, shipments to Israel decreased by 29%, whereas shipments to the Netherlands flatlined. While exports to Saudi Arabia, the UK and Germany declined sharply, exports have notably gained in Japan and Poland.
|
US pecan exports (pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Canada |
2,624,034 |
3,318,052 |
26.4% |
|
Israel |
1,854,300 |
1,322,550 |
-28.7% |
|
Netherlands |
978,060 |
978,450 |
0.0% |
|
South Korea |
972,415 |
847,500 |
-12.8% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
875,760 |
336,000 |
-61.6% |
|
UK |
807,960 |
287,280 |
-64.4% |
|
Lithuania |
318,000 |
276,000 |
-13.2% |
|
Japan |
148,110 |
193,830 |
30.9% |
|
Germany |
308,790 |
184,770 |
-60.2% |
|
Poland |
126,000 |
163,500 |
29.8% |
|
Others |
2,217,480 |
1,298,700 |
-61.4% |
|
Total |
11,230,909 |
9,206,632 |
-18.0% |
|
American Pecan Council, 01/09-31/12 |
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Constrained market
At 59.6 million pounds US retail/grocery shipments for shelled meats stood a bit higher than last year in the first four months of the current season. In-shell shipments, by contrast, declined by 47% to 6.4 million pounds. At 147.3 million pounds total in-shell basis shipments therefore range 7% lower than last year’s 158.6 million pounds. Although the pecans received stand a bit higher than last year at 106 million pounds for September to December 2025, total inshell inventories have dipped by 15% from 156.3 million pounds in December 2024 to 132.5 million pounds in December 2025.
As Mexican supplier Pecaninis report Georgia and Texas completed harvesting in January with arrivals ranging 10% lower than last year. Availability is constrained in North America with the market also receiving support from other tree nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, macadamias or cashews, which are also showing firm prices. On top of this, Mexico’s crop is expected to decline by 25% as compared with last year. Harvesting was around 70% complete in January with early yields around 30% lower than in 2024.
EU imports on the rise
In 2025, EU imports climbed to a three-year high of 16,820 mt worth EUR 168 million (USD 199 million). This presents a nominal 5% risen on 2024 in terms of volume and a 13% rise in terms of value on the 16,035 mt worth EUR 149 million (USD 177 million) imported in 2024.
Last year, the USA remained the most important trading partner for the EU. Yet, the volume shipped declined by 18%. By contrast, shipments from Mexico surged by 52% and South Africa sported a 38% rise. Within the EU the Netherlands accounted for 41% of the EU’s total import volume in 2025, followed by Germany with 27% and Spain with 11%.
|
EU pecan imports (mt) |
|||
|
Partner |
2024 |
2025 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
10,608 |
8,753 |
-17.5% |
|
Mexico |
4,689 |
7,143 |
52.3% |
|
South Africa |
440 |
607 |
38.0% |
|
Argentina |
121 |
133 |
10.0% |
|
Brazil |
- |
48 |
- |
|
Bolivia |
- |
35 |
- |
|
Turkey |
- |
20 |
- |
|
EU |
5 |
16 |
220% |
|
Chile |
- |
10 |
- |
|
UK |
45 |
4 |
-91.1% |
|
Others |
127 |
51 |
-59.8% |
|
Total |
16,035 |
16,820 |
4.9% |
|
DG Taxud’s Customs Surveillance system, provisional data, 01/01-31/12 |
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