In-shell pistachios

In 2024, exports of pistachios were worth a total US$4.5 billion.

Exported pistachios grew by 20.4% from 5 years earlier in 2020 when export sales for pistachios were worth $3.7 billion.

Year over year, overall export revenues rose 8.1% compared to $4.14 billion in 2024 for the smoothly textured and slightly sweet seed.

Almost three-fifths (59.6%) of globally exported pistachios were in-shell compared to 40.4% sold with their shells removed (35.3% for 2023).

Pistachios seeds come from the fruits of small desert trees highly tolerant of salt-water soil. The shells of the pistachio are often dyed from their natural beige color to a distinctive red or green for commercial sale.

Consumers eat pistachios raw or roasted and salted. Pistachio nuts are key ingredients in special varieties of ice cream, spumoni, pistachio butter and pastes. Shelled pistachios are also the chopped nuts in the layered pastry dessert Baklava, and are used to make pistachio chocolate, biscotti and cold cuts like mortadella. In the United States, pistachio salad is made with fresh pistachios or pistachio pudding, whipped cream and canned fruit.

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of pistachios are the United States of America, Iran, Türkiye, Germany and Belgium. Combined, that subset of major suppliers sold 87.8% of all pistachios sold on international markets during 2024.

Applying a continental lens, exporters in North America supplied the highest dollar worth of exported pistachios during 2024 with shipments valued at $2.3 billion or 56.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (31%) trailed by competitors in Europe (12.4%), Oceania (0.4%) mostly Australia, Africa (0.05%), then those in Latin America (0.02%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of pistachios in 2024 were mainland China, Germany, Italy, Türkiye and Vietnam. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought over half (53.8%) of globally imported pistachios as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages suggest the total 76 exporters of pistachios (87.8% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to about 170 buying countries, islands and territories. At 53.8%, the top 5 importers accounted for a much smaller share of its world total for imported pistachios compared to the leading exporters.

As for global imports of pistachios by continent, 54.2% of pistachios purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (41.2%), North America (1.9%), Africa (1.6%), Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia, then Latin America (0.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080251 for fresh or dried pistachios in shell, and 080252 for fresh or dried shelled pistachios.

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 99% of globally exported pistachios in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing pistachios exporters since 2023 were: Jordan (up 11,364%), Australia (up 174.6%), mainland China (up 154.2%) and the Czech Republic (up 113.3%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported pistachios sales were led by: United Arab Emirates (down -51.5% from 2023), Vietnam (down -50.4%), Belgium (down -46.2%), Luxembourg (down -35.5%) and Syria (down -16.8%).

Overall spending of $4.56 billion on imported pistachios accelerated by 82% over the 5-year period starting from $3.2 billion in 2020 and increased by a 27.3% year-over-year advance compared to $3.58 billion for 2023.

Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of pistachios imported during 2024, for any pistachios regardless of whether shelled or not.

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 86.9% of globally imported pistachios in 2024.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing pistachios importers since 2023 were: Vietnam (up 103%), mainland China (up 87.6%), Jordan (up 84.6%) and Hong Kong (up 64.6%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported pistachios purchases were: Iraq (down -39.6% from 2023), United Arab Emirates (down -38.3%) and Israel (down -2.6%).

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imported in-shell pistachios was US$6,717 per ton. That dollar metric results from a -7% downturn from the average $7,224 per ton for 2023.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of unshelled pistachios, mainland China, was lower at $6,464.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported in-shell pistachios in 2024.

The greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for in-shell pistachios were recorded by low-cost importers in Russia (down -69.2% from 2023), New Caledonia (down -56%), Kazakhstan (down -50.9%), Belize (down -50%) and the Ivory Coast (down -40%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported in-shell pistachios.

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imported shelled pistachios was an estimated US$12,548 per ton. That dollar average is much higher than that for unshelled versions, caused in part due to labor costs.

The average unit price for shelled pistachio imports fell by -3.4% compared to $12,988 per ton for 2023.

The average tonnage charged for the number one importer of shelled pistachios, Italy, was higher at $15,473.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported shelled pistachios in 2024.

Trinidad and Tobago (down -76.2% from 2023), Vietnam (down -74.3%), Russia (down -63.9%), Kazakhstan (down -49.8%) and Panama (down -30.8%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported shelled pistachios.

The greatest inflation for shelled pistachio average unit prices paid were recorded for buyers in: Guyana (up 1,900% from 2023), Bahamas (up 1,355%), Oman (up 100.4%), Bulgaria (73.2%) then Ecuador (up 58.1%).

See also Top Peanuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Almonds Exporters by Country, Top Walnut Exporters by Country, Top Cashews Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Hazelnuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Brazil Nuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Chestnuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Pistachio Showroom. Accessed on June 16, 2025

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 16, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 16, 2025

Wikipedia, Pistachio. Accessed on June 16, 2025