Pistachios: US exports not quite up to scratch
August 18, 2026 at 12:11 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
US exports below record
With only one month to go in the current season it does not seem that exports will reach the record levels of 2023/2024 as the July Industry Inventory Shipment Report issued by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios illustrates. In July, monthly exports hit a record 59.9 million pounds, which is also 39% up on the 43 million pounds shipped in July 2025. By contrast, domestic shipments fell to a multi-year low of 15 million pounds, which is 26% less than the 20.3 million pounds recorded in July last year. At 74.9 million pounds total monthly shipments reached a new high, which is 18% up on last year’s 63.3 million pounds.
Year-to-date domestic shipments are relatively flat on last year. Exports may range 26% higher, yet this figure still falls short of the 882.3 million pounds shipped on the same period in the record 2023/2024 season. Total year-to-date shipments also stand 20% higher than last year, but lower than the 1.1 billion pounds shipped in 2023/2024.
China steps up buying
Exports to Vietnam have surged by 155% this season so far as former top destination China has diversified its supply chain. This also explains why exports to Hong Kong range more than seven times higher than last year. Between April and July, exports to China, however, started to catch up again and the country now ranks in eight position. Shipments to India have slowed this season and range 5% lower. At 302.8 million pounds subtotal shipments to Asia stand 13% higher than last year’s 268.9 million pounds.
Germany still ranks second with a moderate uptick in shipments of 7%. Other destinations in Europe such as Spain and Italy are showing sharper rises of 21% and 36% respectively. With subtotal exports amounting to 319 million pounds, which is 19% up on last year’s 267.1 million pounds, Europe is the most important destination for US pistachios this season.
Shipments to Turkey have, in addition, more than doubled. Jordan is showing an even sharper rise of 178%, whereas shipments to the United Arab Emirates only range 9% higher than last year. Subtotal shipments to the Middle East and Africa have surged by 85%, from 6.3 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 11.6 million pounds in 2025/2026.
|
US pistachio shipments (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Vietnam |
49,608 |
126,544 |
155.1% |
|
Germany |
91,626 |
97,674 |
6.6% |
|
Turkey |
26,720 |
65,680 |
145.8% |
|
Hong Kong |
8,074 |
60,668 |
651.4% |
|
Spain |
40,293 |
48,577 |
20.6% |
|
Italy |
28,668 |
38,938 |
35.8% |
|
India |
34,913 |
33,067 |
-5.3% |
|
China |
152,879 |
31,712 |
-79.3% |
|
Jordan |
9,245 |
25,731 |
178.3% |
|
UAE |
23,533 |
25,695 |
9.2% |
|
Others |
209,308 |
296,051 |
41.4% |
|
Total Domestic |
221,250 |
222,747 |
0.7% |
|
Total Exports |
674,867 |
850,337 |
26.0% |
|
Grand Total |
896,118 |
1,073,084 |
19.7% |
|
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, 01/09-31/07 |
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INC cuts estimates
In the July edition of the Nutfruit Magazine the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) has issued lower estimates. While global in-shell production was projected at 701,050 mt (1.5 billion pounds) in May the figure now stands 9% lower at 641,300 mt (1.4 billion pounds). Expectation is that global production will fall by 42% in 2026/2027. Global supply will also decline by 33%, from 1.3 million mt (2.9 billion pounds) in 2025/2026 to 881,070 mt (1.9 billion pounds) in 2026/2027. Other trade sources even predict a lower production of 600,180 mt (1.3 billion pounds).
In the US, where 2026 is an off year in terms of the biennial production cycle, the production figure has been cut to 315,000 mt (694.4 million pounds), as much as 56% lower than last year. Issue is the record heat recorded during bloom in March, which damaged clusters and will impact nut size.
Production in Turkey will also range lower than anticipated in May. Although the country will witness an on year, production will only climb by 19% due to a supercell storm in May. For Iran, which will witness an off year in 2026, the INC has left the projection unchanged at 130,000 mt (286.6 million pounds), which is 42% lower than last year. Nationwide power cuts have disrupted irrigation, which will adversely impact output.
|
Global pistachio production, in-shell basis (mt) |
|||
|
Country |
2025/26 |
2026/27 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
722,670 |
315,000 |
-56.4% |
|
Turkey |
114,600 |
136,450 |
19.1% |
|
Iran |
225,000 |
130,000 |
-42.2% |
|
Syria |
13,350 |
31,000 |
132.2% |
|
Spain |
9,500 |
10,500 |
10.5% |
|
Greece |
6,000 |
8,700 |
45.0% |
|
Italy |
4,700 |
1,000 |
-88.7% |
|
Australia |
3,000 |
5,500 |
83.3% |
|
Afghanistan |
2,600 |
2,700 |
3.8% |
|
China |
320 |
450 |
40.6% |
|
Total |
1,101,740 |
641,300 |
-41.8% |
|
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, Iran Pistachio Association, Greek Nuts & Fruits Trade Association, Australia Pistachio Growers’ Association and other INC sources |
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