Pistachios: challenging market situation
October 20, 2026 at 11:19 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Record exports
September exports surged to a record high of 69 million pounds, a stunning 64% up on last year according to the first Shipment Report of the season issued by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP). Domestic shipments, by contrast, declined by 8% to a multi-year low of 19 million pounds. This brings the total tally to 88 million pounds, thereby marking an impressive 40% gain on last year.
High demand in Asia, Europe and Middle East
Exports to Vietnam have risen more than threefold and even range more than twenty times higher to India. Hong Kong is, by contrast, sporting a relatively modest rise of 25% and former leading destination China no longer features in the top ten chart. With a more than twofold rise in shipments to 29 million pounds as compared with last year’s 12 million pounds Asia has become the most important trading region for US pistachios.
Germany has remained the largest buyer in Europe with a 35% rise in shipments. Spain is also showing a 20% increase and Italy a more moderate rise of 8%. At 26 million pounds, export to Europe range 45% higher than the 18 million pounds recorded in September 2025.
Shipments to Turkey have risen more than fourfold. Saudi Arabia is also showing an impressive 63% rise. Subtotal shipments to the Middle East/Africa have risen by 38%, from 7 million pounds in September 2025 to just under 10 million pounds in September 2026.
By contrast, US exports to the neighbouring countries of Canada and Mexico have declined. At below 4 million pounds the subtotal shipments to North America, in fact, range 11% lower than last year.
|
US pistachio shipments (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2025/26 |
2026/27 |
Diff. |
|
Vietnam |
5,325 |
16,134 |
203.0% |
|
Germany |
7,323 |
9,868 |
34.8% |
|
India |
260 |
5,384 |
1,970.8% |
|
Hong Kong |
4,247 |
5,311 |
25.1% |
|
Turkey |
901 |
4,031 |
347.4% |
|
Spain |
3,202 |
3,844 |
20.0% |
|
Italy |
2,681 |
2,904 |
8.3% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1,599 |
2,598 |
62.5% |
|
Canada |
2,289 |
1,936 |
-15.4% |
|
Mexico |
1,788 |
1,674 |
-6.4% |
|
Others |
12,450 |
15,423 |
23.9% |
|
Total Domestic |
21,017 |
19,313 |
-8.1% |
|
Total Exports |
42,065 |
69,107 |
64.3% |
|
Grand Total |
63,082 |
88,420 |
40.2% |
|
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, 01/09-30/09 |
|||
Difficult market situation for buyers
At 658 million pounds the estimated marketable inventory ranges as much as 45% lower than last year. Crop receipts are also 49% down. Silver lining is that the carryover has risen by 46%. These figures show how strained the market is. Global supplies are tight and demand high. Iran is also witnessing an off year in terms of production with the Iran Pistachio Association (IPA) recently projecting a crop of only 118,000 mt and estimates in Turkey being far from encouraging.
|
US inventory (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Volume |
2025/26 |
2026/27 |
Diff. |
|
Carryover as of 31/08 |
114,580 |
167,464 |
46.2% |
|
Crop receipts |
1,271,201 |
645,755 |
-49.2% |
|
Adjusted inventory |
1,258,506 |
746,322 |
-40.7% |
|
Total shipments |
63,082 |
88,420 |
40.2% |
|
Estimated marketable inventory as of 30/09 |
1,195,424 |
657,902 |
-45.0% |
|
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, Shipment Reports Sep 2025 vs. 2026 |
|||
Prices are high this season with FCA Netherland quotations for whole US kernels ranging at EUR 21.00-24.00/kg (USD 23.59-26.96/kg). Suppliers in Iran are issuing lower offers and cite favourable exchange rates. Yet, as IPA points out high freight rates along with high insurance and logistical costs as well as regulatory issues are quite a challenge. As OFI highlights in the recent "Global Nuts and Crop Update" report the crucial question for the industry is in how far demand can be sustained at these high price levels, especially since production is set to improve again in 2027.
View more
- price charts, pistachios, Iran
- more price charts
View related articles
