Asia overtakes Europe as the largest importer of shelled US walnuts

In September–October 2026, countries in Asia and the Pacific overtook Europe in purchases of shelled US walnuts during the reporting period. According to the California Walnut Board, US exports to Asia-Pacific markets increased by 64% compared with the same period of the previous season, reaching 6.69 thsd tons. Meanwhile, shipments to Europe declined by 10% to 5.86 thsd tons. As a result, Asia became the largest overseas market for US walnut kernels.

The strongest growth in purchases was recorded in South Korea, which increased imports of shelled US walnuts by 125% to 3.11 thsd tons. Shipments to Japan rose by 31.5% to 1.95 thsd tons, while exports to Taiwan surged by 138% to 652 tons. Australia also increased purchases by 31.2% to approximately 601 tons. Stronger demand in these markets was the main driver behind the shift in the geographical structure of US exports.

Trends in the European market were mixed. The sharpest decline in shelled walnut shipments was recorded in Germany, where imports fell by 71.3% to 487 tons. Spain reduced purchases by 13.3% to 2.17 thsd tons. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom increased imports by 38.2% to 1.77 thsd tons, while Italy recorded a 7.7% increase to 515 tons. German buyers also partially shifted their purchasing patterns, with imports of US in-shell walnuts more than doubling to 550 tons.

Overall, during the first two months of the 2026/27 season, US exports of shelled walnuts increased by 15.8% to 15.46 thsd tons. Domestic shipments rose even more sharply, up 45.7% to 21.07 thsd tons. Combined shipments of shelled walnuts to domestic and international markets reached 36.53 thsd tons, exceeding the corresponding period of the previous season by 31.3%.

Meanwhile, the in-shell walnut market showed the opposite trend. In September–October, US exports of in-shell walnuts declined by 28.3% to 17.91 thsd tons, while total shipments, including domestic sales, fell by 29.1%. Italy remained the largest buyer of in-shell walnuts, although its purchases decreased by 11.8%. Thus, the US walnut market entered the new season with growing demand for shelled walnuts, particularly in Asia, alongside declining sales of in-shell products.

Tags: EU, USA, walnut, Asia