In 2023, the European Union (EU)-27 imported $6.5 billion in tree nuts from the world. The EU remains a net importer of tree nuts for all products as demand highly exceeds domestic production. The United States is the largest EU-27 tree nuts supplier, providing $2.4 billion worth of nuts, or 37 percent of total imports. Nuts continue to benefit from their positive image as a healthy snack and a good source of all macronutrients, including carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. Consumers are also paying more attention to the origin of what they eat, seeking out locally grown products, including nuts. More eco-friendly production, packaging, and distribution are becoming more popular among European consumers, particularly in the northern countries.
Executive Summary
The EU Continues to be a Key Trading Partner for U.S. Tree Nuts
In 2023, the European Union (EU)-27 imported $6.5 billion in tree nuts from the world. The United States, with $2.4 billion, is the largest EU-27 tree nuts supplier, accounting for 37 percent of total imports. Türkiye is the second largest supplier with 22 percent of imports, mainly hazelnuts, followed by Vietnam (cashews), and Chile (hazelnuts and walnuts). U.S. almonds (both in-shell and shelled) totaled $1.28 billion, followed by pistachios with $758 million and walnuts with almost $276 million. Within the EU, the most significant importers of U.S. tree nuts are Germany, Spain, and Italy.
The Food Processing and Snack Industry Remain the Most Significant Buyers
The snacking industry continues to work to satisfy the evolving consumer demands and preferences, offering consumers new products and ways to consume nuts. The trend towards healthy snacking and healthy indulgence continues to gain importance and consumers are paying more attention to their diets. Processed nuts, especially almonds, pistachios, and peanuts, continue to dominate the retail landscape, while the preference for unprocessed nuts remains strong for walnuts and pecans. With consumers increasingly looking for natural products with clean labels, this is likely to encourage more consumers to make the switch to unprocessed nuts, especially for use in cooking, as well as for snacking. Nuts will continue to benefit from their positive image as a healthy snack and a good source of macronutrients, including carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. The relatively high protein content in nuts will also continue to support their popularity among vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians. The localization trend has also gained significant traction with consumers increasingly seeking out locally grown products, including nuts. More eco-friendly production, packaging, and distribution are becoming popular amongst European consumers, particularly in the northern countries.
Tree nuts consumption has been affected by the current economic situation, specifically inflation. As a result, consumer purchase decisions are likely to favor staple food products or cheaper options, particularly in more price-sensitive countries. However, consumption forecasts show some positive results, and this market sector has high potential due to the products’ high nutritional value, which increases its attractiveness to consumers. In addition, snack food companies are investing in the efficiency and improvement of production processes to improve their competitiveness. Despite economic uncertainties, the sector has the potential to grow, which should encourage companies to maintain their investment plans and continue investing in innovation.
Expanding Business in the EU Market
Trade shows are an excellent opportunity to get to know the market and to meet potential importers. Some of Europe’s leading trade shows are:
USDA-Endorsed Trade Shows:
SIAL October 19-23, 2024 Paris, France
Biofach February 11-14, 2025 Nuremberg, Germany
Fruit Logistica February 5-7, 2025 Berlin, Germany
ANUGA October 4-8, 2025 Cologne, Germany
Other Relevant (Non-Endorsed) Trade Shows:
Food Ingredients November 19-21, 2024 Frankfurt, Germany
ISM February 2-5, 2025 Cologne, Germany
PLMA May 20-21, 2025 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Alimentaria March 23-26, 2026 Barcelona, Spain
Snackex TBD 2026 Lisbon, Portugal
New-to-market exporters interested in a better understanding of EU food regulations and market opportunities are encouraged to reference the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) reports and Exporter Guides produced by our EU FAS Offices.
U.S. Cooperators Active in the EU Market
Trade associations like the Almond Board of California, American Pistachio Growers, and the California Walnut Commission continue to develop strategies for the EU market. These trade associations, in cooperation with FAS offices, work actively to further develop the market for U.S. tree nuts.
Almonds, Shelled Basis Production
The EU-27 is the single largest export region for California almonds, with Spain as the leading European importer. In 2023, the EU-27 represented 29 percent of California’s total almond exports.
Spain is the EU-27’s largest producer of almonds. For Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25, the latest official forecast published by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) estimates a production of 110,242 metric tons (MT) (shelled basis). The Nut Production Board estimates a higher result to reach 125,000 MT. In 2023, the total estimated area in Spain planted with almond trees was 765,540 hectares (HA), of which 635,000 are in production. Of the area in production, around 80 percent correspond to non-irrigated and 20 percent to irrigated production. The organic production area exceeds 137,000 hectares, which represents almost 25 percent of the total productive area.
The estimated production for the current campaign is partly due to the entry in production of more than 14,000 new hectares. The new hectares are mainly irrigated in the regions of Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucia. The entry in production of the new irrigated hectares, along with the spring rains and absence of frost, have partially mitigated the negative impact of the drought, with a higher incidence in the southern producing region and the non-irrigated orchards. Although not all regions have equally benefited from the spring rains, the worst fears that the MY 2024/25 harvest would again be seriously affected not only in terms of volume, but also in size as in the previous campaign, have partly disappear.
Italy is the second largest EU-27 almond producer after Spain. Sicily and Puglia are the main almond- producing areas, accounting together for approximately 97 percent of total supply. Tuono, Genco, and Lauranne are the leading varieties grown in the country. Italy’s MY 2024/25 almond production is forecast to drop by 31 from the previous season, mainly due to the severe drought that affected Sicily and Puglia. Quality is expected to be good. MY 2024/25 almond area is forecast to decrease as farmers in Sicily grubbed up almond trees crushed by a devastating drought.
Currently, Italian farmers are facing some challenges, such as high production costs, which result in farmers sometimes preferring to leave the fruit on the plant rather than harvesting, as well as strong competition from California.
Trade
Imports
Tree nut imports are crucial for EU consumers. Traditionally, consumers prefer locally grown products mainly due to consumer loyalty and habits. However, EU consumption of nuts is higher than production, generating an increase in both domestic production and in imports. In MY 2022/23, the United States was the main almond supplier for European importers. U.S. almonds face competition from Australia and locally grown almonds, mainly originating in Spain. By volume, the main EU destinations for U.S. almonds were Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Many countries import large quantities of almonds destined both for domestic consumption and re-export markets, as well as for the food and snack industry.
Exports
The top destinations for EU-27 almonds in MY 2022/23 were the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Turkey. The largest EU almond exporter is Spain, whose main customers are mainly other EU Member States.
Walnuts, In-shell Basis
Production and Crop Area
Romania remains the largest walnut producer in the European Union. Most Romanian walnut trees are owned by small farmers, but there is an increasing commercial interest in establishing walnut intensive orchards. The number of walnut trees has been growing steadily, reaching 2.6 million trees in 2023, a nearly 30 percent expansion from 2020. The number of productive trees is expected to expand further due to earlier plantings encouraged by EU subsidies for fruit trees. However, heat and dryness risks require additional investment in the orchards to ensure profitability. In 2024, the prolonged heat waves and dry conditions impacted production, which is anticipated to fall by 3.3 percent as compared to the previous year. The yield per tree is anticipated to drop by nine percent, but an estimated increase in the number of the trees alleviated the harvest decline.
In France, production is concentrated in southern France, in the Rhône-Alpes, Aquitaine and Midi- Pyrénées regions. The French walnut grove has become the second largest orchard in France in terms of surface area. Along with kiwifruit, walnuts are the only fruit crop whose surface area has increased in ten years. The MY 2023/24 crop was low due to adverse weather, late frost and drought in the summer. MY 2024/25 also experienced late frost in southwestern France but an excess of rain throughout the summer. The crop in the southeastern part of France is reasonable (noix de Grenoble), but the crop is again very low in the southwest (Noix du Perigord) with a crop less than half the average. Overall, the MY 2024/25 French crop will be low, but slightly above 2023.
In Spain, the main walnut growing regions are Andalucia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Valencia region. As of the date of this report, MAPA has not yet published the official walnut production data for MY 2024/25. If weather conditions remain favorable, Post expects a production of 16,000 MT for the current MY.
Italy lost its walnut market leadership a few decades ago and now is a leading importer, mainly from the United States. Since farmers generally grow walnut trees for both timber and nuts, nut yields and quality have suffered. Leading walnut producing regions in Northern Italy are Veneto, Emilia- Romagna, and Piemonte, where farmers have established efficient and profitable orchards planted with Lara and Chandler varieties. In the South, most walnuts are cultivated in the Campania region, where the main varieties are Sorrento, Malizia, and Chandler. Italy’s MY 2024/25 walnut production is forecast to increase from the previous season thanks to favorable weather and new orchards entering production in Northern Italy. Quality is expected to be good and calibers are expected to be medium/smaller.
Trade
Imports
The wide gap between EU walnut production and imports provides excellent opportunities for walnut exporters. The EU imports various types of nuts for direct consumption as well as for further processing and re-export within the region in different forms, such as salted, baked, fried, or mixed with other nuts. The main competitor of U.S. walnuts, other than local production, is Chile (off season).
Exports
EU-27 walnut exports are very limited. The top destinations for EU-27 walnuts in MY 2022/23 were the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Pistachios, In-shell Basis
Production
Pistachio is a traditional crop in Italy, especially in the Sicily region (Bronte area), which accounts for approximately 90 percent of total supply. In recent years, pistachio production has slightly expanded to other areas in Sicily and Basilicata, where newer and input-intensive orchards have been planted. Bianca (also called Napoletana) is the main pistachio variety grown in the country and is normally harvested in September. Since 2004, pistachio from Bronte has been awarded by the European Commission as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), distinguishing it from other pistachio varieties worldwide. Pistachio tree production is cyclical, bearing heavily in alternate years. Therefore, after the higher MY 2023/24 crop, MY 2024/25 will be a lower bearing year. Quality is expected to be good. 
The pistachio area in Spain continues to expand rapidly. The production area for the MY 2023/24, according to the latest Ministry estimate, is 78,495 hectares, which is an increase of 145 percent from 2,600 hectares in 2012. The crop adapts well to extreme climates and grows well in inland regions such as Castile-La Mancha, which currently comprises 76 percent of Spain’s pistachio planted area. This year, there will be a lower production in this region, as this year will be “off-year” in the cyclical production. However, this will be partially compensated with the new hectares coming into production.
At the production level, more and more farmers are choosing to switch from traditional crops to pistachios, attracted by their profitability and resistance to adverse weather conditions. In addition, the projections for the coming years remain optimistic, supported by constant demand and new investments in the sector. Pistachios have, in fact, proven to be an attractive investment for both farmers, companies and investment funds. Farmers have seen pistachios as an opportunity for diversification and to improve their profitability compared to other more traditional crops. However, in recent years, investment funds have also begun to invest heavily in this sector, which has allowed the creation of larger farms based on economies of scale.
The next five years will be key for the Spanish pistachio sector with much of the planted area coming into production. Spain has 70 pistachio processing plants, 50 of which are in Castilla-La Mancha, with a total capacity of 5,500 dry tons. Thus, if the sector is to remain competitive, the industry is obliged to accompany the agricultural sector in its evolution.
Trade
Imports
Due to very limited production and high demand, the EU pistachio trade balance remains negative, which results in significant imports from the United States and Iran, who together account for 94 percent of total imports. However, the quality and reliability of U.S. pistachios are appreciated assets, making it the chief source of EU imports. In recent years, Turkey has continuously increased their market share, but is still very far from the main two origins.
Exports
EU-27 exports of pistachios are limited. The main destination for EU-27 pistachios in MY 2022/23 was the United Kingdom.
Policy
Aflatoxin Certification for Tree Nuts
Aflatoxin certification is an import instrument for U.S. exporters of almonds, pistachios and peanuts to the EU. Information on the product specific programs is available from the respective commodity groups as well as from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Almonds
At the request of the Almond Board of California (ABC), AMS administers a program for aflatoxin testing of almonds destined for export to the European Union (EU) through the Pre-Export Certification program of ABC. For information on aflatoxin certification on almonds, please go to the links below:
- Almond Board of California (ABC)
- USDA-AMS Laboratory Approval Service – Aflatoxin Program
- Pistachios
At the request of the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP), AMS administers a program for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A testing of pistachios destined for the EU through the Pistachio Export Aflatoxin Reporting (PEAR) Program.
AMS administers mandatory domestic aflatoxin requirements for pistachio nuts under Pistachios Grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico (7 CFR Part 983) and administers mandatory import requirements for pistachio nuts under Specialty Crops; Import Regulations (7 CFR Part 999, Section 999.600). The regulations require domestic and import shipments of pistachios intended for human consumption to be tested for aflatoxin contamination by a USDA or USDA-approved lab.
For information on aflatoxin certification on pistachios, please go to the links below:
- Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP)
- USDA-AMS Technical Services – Pistachio Aflatoxin Program
EU Import Controls on Food and Feed of Plant Origin
Official controls are carried out by the competent authorities in the EU countries to verify business compliance with the requirements set out in agri-food chain legislation. Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 is the framework regulation setting common rules for carrying out these official controls. The scope of the regulation does not only cover food and feed safety throughout production, processing and distribution, but also covers plant health and plant protection, animal health and welfare, and organic production and labeling rules. Official controls can take place at all stages of marketing. The regulation also covers official controls on imports. A subsequent Commission notice on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Official Controls Regulation) 2022/C 467/02 compiles further clarifications and best practices in order to contribute to a harmonized understanding and application of the provisions by Member States’ competent authorities and stakeholders.
EU Controls on Almonds
Almonds fall under a Pre-Export Checks regime. Regulation (EU) 2015/949 approves the pre-export checks carried out on certain food by certain third countries regarding the presence of certain mycotoxins.
This regime is in place if a third country’s control system is accepted under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/949. For the accepted product/origin combinations, the regulation requires that import authorities subject the consignments to less than a one percent physical control level at the border if they are accompanied by the appropriate pre-export check certificate. This document must be issued by the exporting country’s competent authority and include the sampling and laboratory analysis results. This documentation (government-issued certificate plus sampling/analysis data) is not a pre-condition for import. However, in the absence of this documentation, Member States are not required to apply the reduced testing levels upon import. Under this system, there is no charge to the operator for testing and the rejection rates are not specifically tracked or reported.
For more information details, please check GAIN Report “EU Import Controls on Food and Feed of Plant Origin.”
Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Tree Nuts – Upcoming reviews
Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides, including import tolerances, have been harmonized throughout the EU and can be found in the EU MRL database. Advance notice of active ingredients under review for renewal of approval in the EU, listed with a U.S. MRL, can be found in the global MRL database. For additional information, please consult the FAS/Brussels’ website on EU Early Alerts.
Upcoming reviews for MRLs: Article 12 review: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/pesticides-MRL-review-progress-report.pdf
Maximum Levels for Contaminants in Food
Maximum levels of aflatoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1) are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 165/2010. The European Commission’s web page on contaminants provides further specific information on contaminants in general, and Plant toxins and mycotoxins and aflatoxins in particular.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1323, amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 introduced maximum levels for Cadmium in certain foodstuffs.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1370, amending Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of ochratoxin A in certain foodstuffs. — By Arantxa Medina, USDA Foreign Ag Service
Disclaimer: This report presents the situation and outlook for tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, and pistachios) in the EU-27. This report presents the views of the authors and does not reflect the official views of the United States. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The data are not official USDA data.
This report would not have been possible without the valuable expert contributions from the following Foreign Agricultural Service analysts:
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Xavier Audran, FAS/Paris covering France
Mila Boshnakova, FAS/Sofia covering Bulgaria
Ornella Bettini, FAS/Rome covering Italy
Monica Dobrescu, FAS/Bucharest covering Romania
Marcel Pinckaers, FAS/The Hague covering The Netherlands
Gerda Vandercammen and Tania De Belder, FAS/Brussels covering EU policyAbbreviations and definitions used in this report:
Conversion factors: conversion factor is used to convert shelled to in-shell tree nuts. Almonds: 0.6
Walnuts: 2.34
Pistachios: 2.0HA hectare; 1 hectare = 2.471 acres
MT Metric ton = 1,000 kg
EU MS European Union Member State(s)HS Codes: Harmonized System codes for commodity classification used to calculate trade data. Almonds: Shelled 080212; In-shell 080211
Walnuts: Shelled 080232; In-shell 080231
Pistachios: In-shell 080251, Shelled 080252 (since January 2012)
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- Pistachios
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