Pecans: closer EU-US ties but China not happy

EU countries start to buy US in-shell pecans

At 18.18 million pounds monthly total inshell basis shipments stood 22% lower than the 23.41 million pounds shipped in May last year. While shelled meat shipments dipped by 19% to 6.37 million pounds in the retail/grocery sector and by 30% to 1.73 million pounds in the export sector, inshell shipments more than doubled to 862,250 pounds in the retail/grocery sector and ranged more than seven times higher at 1.11 million pounds in the export sector.

Year-to-date shipments are even more straightforward as all figures have declined with the noted exception of in-shell exports. At 267.81 million pounds total inshell basis shipments stand 22% lower than the 303.69 million pounds recorded in September 2024 to May 2025. Shelled meat shipments have thereby dipped by 2% to 100.75 million pounds in the retail/grocery industry and by 8% to 22.10 million pounds in the export industry. Inshell retail/grocery shipments have also fallen by a much sharper 43% to as little as 13.6 million pounds. In-shell exports have, by contrast, gained by 14% to 8.47 million pounds. While shipments to China as leading destination for US in-shell pecans have dropped by 40%, the rise in exports to Mexico, Morocco and Lebanon along with the emergence of European buyers are the drivers for this rise.

Lower shelled meat exports

Shelled meat exports have declined to nearly all top ten destinations, with the noted exceptions of Germany and Japan. Canada heads the chart with a nominal 2% decline. Yet, as shipments to Mexico have gained in the current season the total shipments to North America stand flat at 5.14 million pounds. By contrast, total shipments to Europe have declined by 19%, from 10.27 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 8.29 million pounds in 2025/2026. At 4.51 million pounds total shipments to the Middle East also range 35% lower than last year’s 6.97 million pounds. Exports to Asia have declined by 4%, form 4.64 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 3.99 million pounds in 2025/2026.

US market dominance set to grow in EU

News is that the US pecan industry will profit from closer trade ties with the EU. Issue is that the EU has now formally adopted a 500,000 mt tariff rate quota for US tree nuts with HS Code 0802, which includes pecans, pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts and pine nuts, and for HS code 200819, which includes roasted almonds and pistachios, as the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council outlines. EU regulators acted swiftly to fulfill the commitments set out in the EU-US Joint Statement in August 2025 before a sensitive deadline expired in July. The quota started to apply on 1 July along with a 0% duty for several US dried fruits.

According to the weekly trade statistics issued by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development the USA supplied an average of 61% of the EU’s annual import volume in 2022-2026, followed by Mexico with a market share of 33% and South Africa with a much smaller 3%. In calendar year 2025 the EU imported 8,887 mt of pecans worth EUR 86 million form the USA, which amounted to a market share of 52%. Mexico supplied 7,208 mt worth EUR 75 million, which reflects 42% of the EU’s total import volume.

Chinese processors decry delay in EU decision on nickel

In addition, the European Commission intends to raise the maximum level for nickel in pecans from 3.5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. Yet, as Frucom and the INC report progress on this issue has been delayed as the Standing Committee did not view a statement to be agreed by member states in the last meeting on 19 June and may now vote on the matter at the next meeting on 25 September.

As China-based supplier ED Nuts reports this delay will impact the possibility to ship pecan kernel processed in China using raw nuts from South Africa. China has now officially confirmed that no import duties apply for pecans from South Africa, which renders this origin more competitive than the USA or Mexico for local processors.

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