Walnuts: EU spending hits record high
April 25, 2023 at 8:13 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
US are leading supplier
In terms of volume imports rose by a much more moderate 8%, mainly driven by a 20% hike in imports from the USA. Chile also increased shipments to the EU by 5% and prospects are highly promising for 2023/2024. Not only is inshell production expected to rise to 190,000-192,000 mt according to official estimates but freight rates are also down and demand for the country’s high-quality kernels should remain high. Producers, however, report that kernel sizes are smaller than usual due to the high temperatures witnessed in spring and summer. Chandler output may also range 10-15% lower than in 2022/2023.
Although shipments from Ukraine slumped by 21%, the country remains an important supplier for the EU. Inshell production declined by 8% to 78,000 mt in 2022/2023 as official estimates suggest and there is little hope that Russia will stop its aggressive war in the country. The world’s leading producer China, by contrast, increased shipments to the EU by 26% and will certainly gain a stronger foothold in the bloc as production is expected to continue to grow. China produced 1.4 million mt of walnuts in 2022/2023.
|
EU walnut imports (mt) |
|||
|
Country |
2021 |
2022 |
Diff |
|
USA |
50,805 |
60,770 |
19.6% |
|
Chile |
21,216 |
22,272 |
5.0% |
|
Ukraine |
18,045 |
14,267 |
-21.0% |
|
China |
6,415 |
8,075 |
25.9% |
|
Moldova |
4,932 |
3,774 |
-23.5% |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
- |
918 |
- |
|
India |
353 |
695 |
96.9% |
|
Argentina |
330 |
287 |
-13.1% |
|
Turkey |
62 |
260 |
319.3% |
|
Australia |
441 |
260 |
-61.1% |
|
Others |
878 |
631 |
-28.2% |
|
Total |
103,477 |
112,209 |
8.4% |
|
HS Code 08023200 – Fresh or dried walnuts, shelled |
|||
Weak US exports
Although Europe is indeed the leading export destination for US walnuts this season, it should be noted that shipment to here range 10% lower than last year at 84 million pounds for September 2022 till March 2023. Domestic shipments, by contrast, rose by 20%, whereas US walnut exports ranged 7% lower. March highlighted this divide as domestic shipments rose by 43% to 23 million pounds, but exports slipped by 12% to 35 million pounds. Shipments to the top three destinations Germany, Japan and Korea have dropped by double digits and are 8% down in Spain. Shipments to the Netherlands and Canada have, by contrast, risen.
|
US walnut shipments, shelled, in 1,000 pounds |
|||
|
Destination |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
116,510 |
138,787 |
19.1% |
|
Germany |
47,688 |
36,449 |
-23.5% |
|
Japan |
31,382 |
19,939 |
-36.5% |
|
Korea |
20,358 |
18,125 |
-11.0% |
|
Spain |
19,277 |
17,637 |
-8.5% |
|
Netherlands |
12,029 |
12,701 |
5.6% |
|
Canada |
9,470 |
10,710 |
13.1% |
|
Jordan |
2,721 |
8,184 |
200.8% |
|
UK |
4,633 |
7,292 |
57.4% |
|
Israel |
9,057 |
7,045 |
-22.2% |
|
Others |
140,001 |
40,342 |
-71.2% |
|
Grand Total |
308,267 |
317,211 |
2.9% |
|
Domestic Total |
116,510 |
138,787 |
19.1% |
|
Export Total |
191,757 |
178,423 |
-6.95% |
|
California Walnut Board, Monthly Shipment Report March 2023 |
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