EU: Walnut Market 2025

Walnut Market Size in the EU

The EU walnut market fell slightly to $X in 2021, waning by -2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of the market remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Walnut Production in the EU

In value terms, walnut production dropped slightly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production continues to indicate a noticeable decrease. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the production volume increased by 23%. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2015 to 2021, production growth remained at a lower figure.

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2021 were Romania (X tons), France (X tons) and Greece (X tons), together accounting for 61% of total production. Germany, Spain, Italy and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 28%.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by Hungary (with a CAGR of +7.4%), while production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The average walnut yield reached X tons per ha in 2021, approximately mirroring the year before. Over the period under review, the yield, however, saw a perceptible decrease. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when the yield increased by 2.1% against the previous year. The level of yield peaked at X tons per ha in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, the yield failed to regain momentum. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2021, approx. X ha of walnuts were harvested in the European Union; with a decrease of -2.2% compared with the year before. The harvested area increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the harvested area increased by 9.8%. Over the period under review, the harvested area dedicated to walnut production attained the maximum at X ha in 2020, and then shrank in the following year.

Walnut Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2021, exports of walnuts in the European Union rose sharply to X tons, surging by 11% compared with the previous year's figure. Overall, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 13% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at X tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, walnut exports expanded remarkably to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, exports, however, showed a perceptible downturn. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 14%. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

France represented the largest exporting country with an export of around X tons, which recorded 62% of total exports. It was distantly followed by the Netherlands (X tons) and Belgium (X tons), together achieving a 22% share of total exports. Spain (X tons), Germany (X tons), Italy (X tons) and Poland (X tons) took a little share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to walnut exports from France stood at -3.3%. At the same time, Belgium (+26.0%), the Netherlands (+20.0%), Poland (+12.6%), Germany (+1.6%) and Spain (+1.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Belgium emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +26.0% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Italy (-3.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Belgium and the Netherlands increased by +9.5 and +9.4 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, France ($X) remains the largest walnut supplier in the European Union, comprising 66% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by the Netherlands ($X), with a 12% share of total exports. It was followed by Belgium, with a 6.7% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in France stood at -5.2%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the Netherlands (+15.4% per year) and Belgium (+16.6% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, stabilizing at the previous year. In general, the export price showed a pronounced curtailment. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2014 when the export price increased by 7.9%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2015 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was Spain ($X per ton), while Poland ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Spain (-1.6%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Walnut Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2021, approx. X tons of walnuts were imported in the European Union; growing by 4.3% against 2020. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when imports increased by 24% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, walnut imports rose modestly to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2014 when imports increased by 24%. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

Italy represented the main importer of walnuts in the European Union, with the volume of imports amounting to X tons, which was approx. 46% of total imports in 2021. It was distantly followed by Spain (X tons), Germany (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons) and Belgium (X tons), together comprising a 43% share of total imports. The following importers - Romania (X tons) and Portugal (X tons) - together made up 5.9% of total imports.

Imports into Italy increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Romania (+20.5%), Belgium (+15.9%), the Netherlands (+8.1%) and Germany (+3.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Romania emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +20.5% from 2012-2021. Spain and Portugal experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. While the share of Romania (+3.2 p.p.), Italy (+2.9 p.p.) and Belgium (+2.9 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Spain (-6.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Italy ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported walnuts in the European Union, comprising 48% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Spain ($X), with a 17% share of total imports. It was followed by Germany, with a 16% share.

In Italy, walnut imports remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2021. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Spain (-2.9% per year) and Germany (-1.4% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, approximately mirroring the previous year. Overall, the import price showed a perceptible reduction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 an increase of 14% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices attained the peak figure at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was Portugal ($X per ton), while Romania ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+4.1%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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