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Walnuts: tables to turn for Chile

April 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO. Chile has ended the 2024/2025 season on a negative note as the final report issued by ChileNut highlights. Prospects are much better for the current season.

Shelled walnut exports 15% down

March held no surprises for Chile’s walnut exports. At only 50 mt monthly inshell exports were 57% down on the 116 mt shipped in March 2024. Shelled walnut exports even slumped by 73% from 444 mt in March 2024 to 120 mt in March 2025.

Total shelled walnut exports ended the 2024/2025 season 15% lower than in 2023/2024 with Spain as top destination, followed by Germany and Italy. Exports to all regions declined by doubled digits with the noted exception of Europe were export only dropped by a much smaller 2%.

Walnut exports, Chile, shelled (mt)

Destination

2023/24

2024/25

Diff.

Spain

4,831

5,479

13.4%

Germany

3,824

3,627

-5.2%

Italy

4,076

3,226

-20.9%

Netherlands

3,136

3,019

-3.7%

Brazil

4,044

2,044

-49.5%

France

1,882

1,818

-3.4%

Ecuador

1,518

1,312

-13.6%

UK

774

771

-0.4%

Uruguay

537

684

27.4%

Switzerland

471

630

33.8%

Others

9,241

6,702

-27.5%

Total

34,334

29,312

-14.6%

ChileNut, 21/03-20/03

30% slump in inshell exports

Chile’s inshell walnut exports ended the season 29% down. Shipments to leading export destination India have slumped by 31% and to Turkey by 54%. Contrary to this, exports to Italy and other European destinations are up. Shipments to Chile’s neighbouring countries have also risen by 7% as a region, whereas shipments to the Middle East and Africa are 47% down and have witnessed a 32% downturn to Asia and Oceania.

Walnut exports, Chile, inshell (mt)

Destination

2023/24

2024/25

Diff.

India

48,962

33,968

-30.6%

Turkey

23,292

10,702

-54.1%

Italy

7,721

8,384

8.6%

Morocco

5,373

3,969

-26.1%

Spain

3,013

3,145

4.4%

Lithuania

17

1,645

9,576.5%

Germany

1,358

1,378

1.5%

China

2,611

1,315

-49.6%

UAE

1,812

1,289

-28.8%

Peru

822

1,093

33.0%

Others

8,155

6,120

-25.0%

Total

103,136

73,008

-29.2%

ChileNut, 21/03-20/03

Much better prospects for 2025/2026

Anticipation is that this year’s production will range 20% higher than last year at 168,000 mt. Downside, however, is that nut sizes are reported to be smaller. Harvesting started a bit earlier than usual and has been completed with sales underway. As supplies are low in the US and China and demand is high prospects are highly encouraging for Chile's exporters in 2025/2026.

 

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