China is strengthening its position in the global walnut market

A new powerful player has emerged in the global walnut market: China, which has begun to dictate its own terms thanks to low prices and the unique characteristics of its raw materials.

Chinese products are already competing with walnuts from the US, Chile, and Ukraine, forcing other producers to adapt to the new export realities, Andriy Lapa, owner of a nut processing equipment business, said in a podcast on the Gorikhovod YouTube channel.

“I was amazed at how high the kernel-to-shell ratio was. It was about 70% kernel and 30% shell. While the Ukrainian walnut is the opposite, with 30-35% kernel, the opposite is true for Chinese walnuts,” Andriy Lapa noted.

The expert added that because of their thin shell, Chinese walnuts are extremely easy to peel, although their taste may still be inferior to organic Ukrainian products.

Tags: walnut, China