Cultivar development company TopNut’s varietal evolution is symbolic of the South African nut industry’s efforts to grow
South Africa’s nut industry is dominated by macadamia and pecan production, with macadamias accounting for 61 per cent and pecans 39 per cent. South Africa also produces smaller volumes of walnuts, almonds, and other nut varieties.
According to SAMAC (Macadamias South Africa), macadamia production has increased by 335 per cent in the last 15 years and the latest Dry Nut in Shell (DNIS) production forecast for 2026 is 95,222 tonnes, a 17.36 per cent increase from 2025.
One company that is playing an important role in the development of the South African nut industry is TopNut, a joint venture between the South African plant improvement organisation, TopFruit, and Agristar Macadamias, based in Mpumalanga. TopNut started its operations in 2022 as the licensee for one macadamia variety, MCT1.
“Our portfolio has grown to include seven A-series macadamia varieties, two pecan varieties, four walnuts, one almond, one walnut rootstock, and one stone fruit rootstock,” said Anneli Bosman, IP business unit manager at TopNut.
“This stonefruit rootstock is compatible with almond, peach, plum, and apricot varieties. We find a lot of interest in our pecan varieties because they offer scab resistance, making them suitable for planting in high-humidity regions where other varieties struggle. This trait addresses a significant gap in the market, particularly for growers in moisture-prone regions.”
According to the industry, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are leading with new macadamia establishments, with significant plantings also observed in the Western Cape.
“More than 390,000 trees were sold locally in 2024, and 160,000 trees were exported,” one industry source said.
SAMAC data from 2019-2023 shows that South Africa contributes about 34 per cent of total global macadamia kernel export volumes, and about 43 per cent of nut in shell (NIS). Over this period, South Africa experienced growth of 23 per cent compared to the global growth rate of 9 per cent.
South African sources have said the country’s growers benefit from ideal growing conditions and seasons opposite to the Northern Hemisphere, allowing access to less competitive export windows.
“South African pecans reach China in time for Chinese New Year celebrations, capitalising on proximity and premium nut quality. Pecan pricing varies significantly by size and kernel percentage, with differences reaching R20/kg between grades,” one source noted.
Despite its economic contribution through foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and local value-add, the South African nut industry lacks domestic recognition sources have noted.
“Unlike the US, which hosts industry-wide events like Pecan Week, South Africa has limited consumer-facing promotion of its nut sector,” said Bosman.
It seems that the future for the industry is bright, given the varietal mix that is in the pipeline.
“TopNut holds the global testing license for Potamia Erdin, an elite Turkish walnut variety discovered by Erdin Devrim. This variety performs well under a wide range of climatic conditions, even in very hot areas in proximity to the ocean. TopNut also recently acquired the South African testing license for two Portuguese-bred walnut varieties and a Portuguese-bred walnut rootstock. All these walnut varieties are currently in quarantine and will be released once the quarantine process concludes,” Bosman said.
TopNut’s almond, Earlybird, comes from the US. It matures up to one week earlier than Nonpareil, giving growers a significant advantage during harvest said Bosman. The variety produces a large, attractive kernel with a paper-thin shell and excellent seal. These traits deliver superior quality, improved resistance to insect damage, and strong performance in both in-shell and kernel markets.
