Walnuts: exports still climbing
April 21, 2026 at 11:19 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Inshell exports still on the rise
March was another month with sharp rises for inshell exports, a trend that took off in December. While monthly exports still stood at 2.79 million pounds in March 2025, they surged more than tenfold to 30.45 million pounds in March this year. Monthly domestic shipments showed a much more moderate rise of 23%, from 359,000 pounds in March last year to 443,000 pounds in March this year.
Grand total shipments have nearly doubled on last year with exports as the main driver. With shipments rising nearly fivefold Turkey has become the leading export destination for California this year. Other destinations in the Middle East and Africa are also showing impressive rises such as the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Iraq along with Morocco and Lebanon. Shipments to the region now total 155.46 million pounds, which marks a near fivefold rise on last year’s 32.80 million pounds.
By contrast, shipment the Europe as former top export region stand 7% lower than last year’s 52.22 million pounds at 48.35 million pounds. Exports to Italy have risen by 11%, whereas shipments to Spain are 18%down.
Exports to India are showing an 8% downturn this season. Yet shipments to Asia/Pacific Rim as a region stand 3% higher than last year’s 33.53 million pounds at 34.48 million pounds.
Domestic shipments have risen by 30% this year. At 12.04 million pounds the subtotal for North America stands 29% higher than last year’s 9.3 million pounds.
|
US walnut shipments, inshell (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Turkey |
22,776 |
105,606 |
363.7% |
|
Italy |
32,377 |
36,022 |
11.3% |
|
India |
28,705 |
26,351 |
-8.2% |
|
UAE |
4,182 |
18,538 |
343.3% |
|
USA domestic |
7,896 |
10,274 |
30.1% |
|
Spain |
9,407 |
7,706 |
-18.1% |
|
Algeria |
661 |
6,437 |
873.3% |
|
Iraq |
220 |
5,820 |
2,540.0% |
|
Morocco |
1,411 |
5,906 |
318.6% |
|
Vietnam |
2,278 |
5,292 |
132.3% |
|
Lebanon |
2,025 |
5,147 |
154.2% |
|
Others |
16,169 |
19,199 |
18.7% |
|
Export Total |
120,211 |
242,024 |
101.3% |
|
Grand Total |
128,107 |
252,298 |
96.9% |
|
California Walnut Board, 01/09-31/03 |
|||
Kernel exports also gain
Monthly kernel shipments rose by 21% in March to 57.77 million pounds as compared to the 47.90 million pounds recorded in the same month last year. Domestic shipment thereby increased by 24%, from 14.73 million pounds in March 2025 to 18.22 million pounds in March 2026. Exports rose by 19%, from 33.17 million pounds in March 2025 to 39.55 million pounds in March 2026.
Grand total shipments have climbed by 9% this year with exports rising by 16%, yet domestic shipments falling by 4%. Shipments to North America as a region stand 2% lower at 123.25 million pounds as compared with the 126.23 million pounds registered last year.
Exports to Germany, as the top export destination surged by 52% this season. Europe has, in fact, remained the most important export region for walnut kernels as exports have risen by 28% to 137 million pounds as compared with last year’s 107.61 million pounds. Shipments to Spain, the Netherlands and the UK along with Italy are also up.
By contrast, exports to Japan have declined by 7%. At 54.40 million pounds the subtotal shipments to Asia/Pacific Rim also range 7% lower than last year’s 58.62 million pounds. Exports to Taiwan have, however, risen by 5%.
Exports to Israel may be 4% down this season, yet the shipments to the Middle East/Africa as a region have gained by 67% to 18.15 million pounds as opposed to the 10.85 million pounds noted one year ago.
|
US walnut shipments, kernels (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
USA domestic |
110,766 |
106,046 |
-4.3% |
|
Germany |
48,863 |
74,229 |
51.9% |
|
Spain |
24,245 |
24,693 |
1.9% |
|
Japan |
22,907 |
21,267 |
-7.2% |
|
Korea |
21,403 |
17,902 |
-16.4% |
|
Netherlands |
13,581 |
13,791 |
1.5% |
|
UK |
10,013 |
10,456 |
4.4% |
|
Canada |
9,373 |
8,749 |
-6.7% |
|
Italy |
5,804 |
7,044 |
21.4% |
|
Israel |
7,012 |
6,740 |
-3.9% |
|
Taiwan |
5,890 |
6,169 |
4.7% |
|
Others |
21,637 |
31,012 |
43.3% |
|
Export Total |
190,728 |
222,052 |
16.4% |
|
Grand Total |
301,494 |
328,098 |
8.8% |
|
California Walnut Board, 01/09-31/03 |
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