Pine nuts: sharp rise in EU demand
April 9, 2025 at 10:31 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Record high EU imports
EU shelled pine nut imports have risen to record levels in the first quarter of 2025. Imports, in fact, exceeded 3,000 mt for the first time, thereby marking a stunning 31% rise on the same period last year. In terms of value, imports may range below the record EUR 56.061 million (USD 61.765 million) generated in 2022, yet they still climbed by an impressive 37% to EUR 52.432 million (USD 57.767 million) as compared with the very low EUR 38.409 million (USD 42.317 million) registered last year.
China gains market shares
Not only is China the leading supplier by far but has also gained considerable market shares in the EU in the first three months of the year. Although shipments from Russia declined by 23%, the country remained the second most important trading partner for the EU. A new round of tariffs for all agricultural imports from Russia will most probably apply in summer, after a proposal issued by the European Commission in January has been reviewed by the European Parliament. Imports from Mongolia have, by contrast, risen more than fivefold.
As the INC reports in the “Statistical Review” high prices and limited supplies have driven away buyers in Turkey and demand is not expected to recover this year. Raw material shortages also prompted a temporary price rise in Spain and Portugal in January. Yet, this increase has now slowed, and the market is more stable. Germany currently is the main importing EU member state accounting for as much as 48% of the total import volume. Italy is next in line with 14%, followed by the Netherlands with 11% and the Czech Republic with 8%.
|
EU pine nut imports (kg) |
|||||
|
Country |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Diff. (24/25) |
|
China |
1,671,393 |
2,290,593 |
1,783,122 |
2,471,163 |
38.6% |
|
Russia |
461,816 |
290,241 |
359,969 |
276,729 |
-23.1% |
|
Mongolia |
100,000 |
40,000 |
40,000 |
223,500 |
458.8% |
|
Turkey |
83,143 |
27,690 |
143,195 |
90,987 |
-26.5% |
|
Afghanistan |
21,638 |
17,194 |
5,077 |
25,515 |
402.6% |
|
New Zealand |
- |
-- |
2,825 |
4,002 |
41.7% |
|
EU |
- |
10 |
540 |
3,730 |
590.7% |
|
Pakistan |
44,302 |
22,002 |
2,730 |
1,750 |
-35.9% |
|
USA |
504 |
178 |
- |
225 |
- |
|
Israel |
17 |
- |
2 |
24 |
1,100.0% |
|
Others |
28,356 |
27,866 |
20,616 |
60 |
-99.7% |
|
Total |
2,412,169 |
2,715,774 |
2,358,076 |
3,097,685 |
31.4% |
|
DG TAXUD Customs Surveillance, provisional data |
|||||
China’s bumper crop drives production in 2024/2025
According to the INC global in-shell production surged to 174,005 mt and kernel output to 44,840 mt in 2024/2025. Main driver is China’s bumper crop. Production was also better than anticipated in North Korea, Russia and in Mongolia. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only Asian countries that witnessed a downturn.
Estimates for the Mediterranean are far less upbeat. While production flatlined in Turkey, Spain witnessed a 76% shortfall. Italy and Portugal are also sporting double digit declines.
|
Global pine nut production (mt) |
|||
|
Asia (Pinus koraiensis, P. sibirica, P yunnanensis, P. gerardiana) |
|||
|
Country |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Diff. |
|
China |
33,500 |
111,500 |
132.8% |
|
North Korea |
15,000 |
30,000 |
100.0% |
|
Russia (Siberia) |
6,500 |
15,000 |
130.8% |
|
Mongolia |
5,000 |
7,000 |
40.0% |
|
Afghanistan |
4,400 |
2,300 |
-47.7% |
|
Pakistan |
4,300 |
800 |
-81.4% |
|
Subtotal |
68,700 |
166,600 |
142.5% |
|
Mediterranean (Pinus pinea) |
|||
|
Turkey |
5,400 |
5,450 |
0.9% |
|
Italy |
950 |
625 |
-34.2% |
|
Portugal |
700 |
500 |
-28.6% |
|
Spain |
2,070 |
500 |
-75.8% |
|
Others |
360 |
330 |
-8.3% |
|
Subtotal |
9,480 |
7,405 |
-21.9% |
|
Total |
78,180 |
174,005 |
122.6% |
|
China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs and other INC sources, in-shell basis |
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