USDA predicts country will expand its 38 per cent share of bloc’s near US$10bn nut import business
The elimination of tariffs, combined with rising demand for healthy, high-protein snacking, has created “significant opportunities” for US nut exports to the European Union, according to a new report published by the USDA.
Last year, EU nut imports were worth a total of US$9.7bn, the report noted. And despite increased competition from Türkiye, as well as expanding production in Europe itself, the US supplied a range of items including almonds, pistachios, and walnuts to earn US$3.7bn in sales – equal to a commanding 38 per cent market share.
“The EU remains heavily dependent on imports to meet demand that outpaces domestic production, reinforcing the strategic value of US supply,” said the report’s author Arantxa Medina.
“This demand is fueled by rising consumer interest in healthy, high-protein snacking, positioning tree nuts as a growth category across the food processing and retail sectors.”
US exporters also stand to gain from a new trade agreement, signed in July 2026, which eliminates tariffs and establishes a 500,000-tonne tariff-rate quota for tree nut imports at zero per cent duty.
Türkiye was the EU’s second-largest supplier with almost 19 per cent of total imports, primarily supplying hazelnuts, followed by Vietnam (cashews), and Chile (hazelnuts and walnuts).
US nut exports to the EU in 2025 were led by almonds (in-shell and shelled) at US$1.6bn, followed by pistachios with US$1bn, and walnuts (in-shell and shelled) with US$552mn.
When it came to individual country markets, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands were the top importers of US nuts.
