Walnuts: US inshells in high demand
June 10, 2026 at 12:45 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
In-shell shipments approach 300 million pounds
At 12,862 pounds monthly in-shell shipments ranged more than twice as high as the 5,558 pounds registered in May last year as the Monthly Shipment Report issued by the California Walnut Board shows. Exports were the main driver as they also more than doubled to 12,498 pounds, whereas they only stood at 5,229 pounds in May 2025. Domestic shipments increased by a more nominal 11% to 364 pounds as compared with last year’s 329 pounds.
Grand total year-to-date shipments are approaching 300 million pounds and stand more than twice as high as last year. Exports have even surged by 114%. Domestic shipments have also risen by an impressive 47%. With shipments nearly rising fivefold Turkey has taken the lead as the main destination for US in-shell walnuts this season. Exports to the Middle East/Africa stand 395% higher than last year’s 37 million pounds at 183 million pounds with the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Lebanon, Iraq and Morocco showing stunning gains too.
By comparison the 15% rise in exports to Italy appears rather unexciting. Shipments to Europe have, in fact, declined by 5%, form 55,8 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 53.1 million pounds in the current season. Exports to Spain also range 13% lower.
Shipments to India are showing a 10% downturn. Yet, exports to Asia/Pacific Rim as a region stand 5% higher than last year’s 35.2 million pounds at 37 million pounds. Exports to Vietnam have even surged by 88%. In addition, the subtotal shipments to North America have risen by 44%, from 10.9 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 15.8 million pounds in 2025/2026.
|
US walnut shipments, inshell (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Turkey |
26,122 |
123,598 |
373.2% |
|
Italy |
33,100 |
38,123 |
15.2% |
|
India |
29,562 |
26,506 |
-10.3% |
|
UAE |
4,182 |
18,361 |
339.0% |
|
USA domestic |
9,542 |
14,020 |
46.9% |
|
Algeria |
887 |
11,551 |
1,203% |
|
Spain |
9,757 |
8,456 |
-13.3% |
|
Lebanon |
2,179 |
8,225 |
277.4% |
|
Iraq |
220 |
6,789 |
2,980.0% |
|
Morocco |
1,411 |
6,567 |
365.5% |
|
Vietnam |
3,121 |
5,872 |
88.1% |
|
Others |
19,226 |
23,880 |
24.2% |
|
Export Total |
129,767 |
277,928 |
114.2% |
|
Grand Total |
139,309 |
291,948 |
109.6% |
|
California Walnut Board, 01/09-31/05 |
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More moderate rise for kernels
At 39,267 pounds monthly kernel shipments rose by a more moderate 23% on the 31,815 pounds noted in May 2025. While domestic shipments gained by a moderate 2% from 14,428 pounds in May 2025 to 14,758 pounds in May 2026, exports gained by a much larger 41%, from 17,387 pounds to 24,514 pounds.
Grand total year-to-date shipments stand 11% higher than last year and exports 18% higher. By contrast, domestic shipments have dipped by 1%. Europe is the leading destination with shipments 24% up at 168.9 million pounds as opposed to last year’s 136.6 million pounds. Germany as the leading export destination is showing an impressive 32% rise. Shipments to Spain are also 13% up and have risen to the Netherlands, the UK and Italy.
Exports to Japan have risen by a more moderate 3%, but have declined to South Korea, whereas the opposite is the case in Taiwan. Subtotal shipments to Asia/Pacific Rim are relatively flat at 76.6 million pounds as compared with last year’s 75.3 million pounds.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East featuring among the top ten destinations for US walnut kernels. While shipments to here have risen by a moderate 8%, exports to the Middle East/Africa as a region have surged by 76%, from 11.5 million pounds in 2024/2025 to 20.3 million pounds in 2025/2026. Shipments to North America are almost flat at 156.9 million pounds and have risen by 36% to Central & South America, from 61,430 pounds in 2024/2025 to 83,800 ponds in the current season.
|
US walnut shipments, kernels (1,000 pounds) |
|||
|
Destination |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
USA domestic |
144,602 |
143,492 |
-0.8% |
|
Germany |
65,376 |
86,020 |
31.6% |
|
Spain |
28,764 |
32,430 |
12.7% |
|
Japan |
31,443 |
32,219 |
2.5% |
|
Korea |
27,316 |
23,709 |
-13.2% |
|
Netherlands |
16,551 |
17,398 |
5.1% |
|
UK |
13,169 |
14,659 |
11.3% |
|
Canada |
11,201 |
12,003 |
7.1% |
|
Italy |
6,421 |
9,250 |
44.0% |
|
Israel |
7,344 |
7,900 |
7.6% |
|
Taiwan |
6,237 |
7,288 |
16.9% |
|
Others |
26,931 |
40,076 |
48.8% |
|
Export Total |
240,753 |
282,951 |
17.5% |
|
Grand Total |
385,355 |
426,444 |
10.7% |
|
California Walnut Board, 01/09-31/05 |
|||
Sharp rises in China
Kernel prices in China as the leading producing country have risen sharply in the past two weeks. Quotations for shipments to Europe stand as much as USD 70-160/mt higher than last week.
|
Walnut kernels, China |
|
|
Variety |
USD/mt |
|
ELH 90%, 185 |
5,170 |
|
ELH 80%, Yunnan |
5,460 |
|
ELH 80%, XIN2 |
5,170 |
|
CFR EMP, 21.5 mt/40 Reefer |
|
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