Global Chestnut Market 2025

Chestnut Market Size

For the fifth consecutive year, the global chestnut market recorded decline in sales value, which decreased by -0.6% to $X in 2021. Overall, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of the global market failed to regain momentum.

Chestnut Production

In value terms, chestnut production declined to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production saw a slight downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the production volume increased by 27%. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2017 to 2021, global production growth remained at a lower figure.

China (X tons) remains the largest chestnut producing country worldwide, comprising approx. 81% of total volume. Moreover, chestnut production in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Bolivia (X tons), more than tenfold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Turkey (X tons), with a 3.5% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual growth rate of volume in China was relatively modest. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Bolivia (+3.4% per year) and Turkey (+2.8% per year).

The global average chestnut yield dropped modestly to X tons per ha in 2021, remaining stable against the previous year. In general, the yield recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when the yield increased by 1.7%. As a result, the yield reached the peak level of X tons per ha. From 2018 to 2021, the growth of the average chestnut yield remained at a somewhat lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2021, the total area harvested in terms of chestnuts production worldwide contracted modestly to X ha, remaining stable against 2020. Over the period under review, the harvested area, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when the harvested area increased by 4.2%. The global harvested area peaked at X ha in 2020, and then contracted slightly in the following year.

Chestnut Exports

Exports

In 2021, overseas shipments of chestnuts decreased by -1.8% to X tons, falling for the second year in a row after two years of growth. Overall, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 23% against the previous year. The global exports peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, chestnut exports expanded significantly to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 17% against the previous year. The global exports peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

China represented the major exporting country with an export of about X tons, which amounted to 35% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Italy (X tons), Turkey (X tons), Portugal (X tons), Spain (X tons) and South Korea (X tons), together making up a 47% share of total exports. Greece (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

China experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of exports of chestnuts. At the same time, Greece (+18.2%), Turkey (+7.6%) and Spain (+1.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Greece emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +18.2% from 2012-2021. Portugal and Italy experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, South Korea (-6.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Turkey (+4.6 p.p.) and Greece (+3.1 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global exports from 2012-2021, the share of China (-3.1 p.p.) and South Korea (-5.6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X), Italy ($X) and Turkey ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, with a combined 59% share of global exports. Portugal, Spain, Greece and South Korea lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 29%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Greece, with a CAGR of +21.9%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average chestnut export price stood at $X per ton in 2021, with an increase of 7.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 an increase of 16% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the peak figure at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Greece (+3.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Chestnut Imports

Imports

For the third consecutive year, the global market recorded decline in purchases abroad of chestnuts, which decreased by -7.7% to X tons in 2021. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 29%. Global imports peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, chestnut imports reached $X in 2021. Overall, imports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when imports increased by 25% against the previous year. Global imports peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

Italy represented the major importing country with an import of around X tons, which resulted at 24% of total imports. China (X tons) took a 6.8% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by Vietnam (6.5%), France (5.2%) and Taiwan (Chinese) (4.9%). Germany (X tons), South Korea (X tons), Thailand (X tons), Spain (X tons), Switzerland (X tons), the United States (X tons), Japan (X tons) and Austria (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into Italy increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Vietnam (+78.7%), South Korea (+6.2%), Germany (+4.8%), France (+4.2%), Spain (+3.9%), Taiwan (Chinese) (+2.6%), Austria (+2.4%) and Switzerland (+1.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Vietnam emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +78.7% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Thailand (-3.3%), the United States (-3.8%), China (-6.2%) and Japan (-10.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Vietnam, Italy, South Korea and France increased by +6.4, +3.1, +1.6 and +1.5 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Italy ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported chestnuts worldwide, comprising 26% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Germany ($X), with an 8% share of global imports. It was followed by Switzerland, with a 6.4% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual growth rate of value in Italy stood at +3.6%. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+6.1% per year) and Switzerland (+0.7% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The average chestnut import price stood at $X per ton in 2021, with an increase of 11% against the previous year. Overall, the import price showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the average import price increased by 16%. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the maximum in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($X per ton), while South Korea ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+3.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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