Data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on June 5 indicate that U.S. pistachio exports amounted to 19.9k metric tons (mt) in April 2025. This volume was 0.9k mt below March 2025 figures (-4%), 5.1k mt less than April 2024 (-21%), and 0.3k mt lower than the five-year average (2019/20-2023/24) for this period. Anticipations for May suggest a five-year average of 20.9k mt.
Germany, Spain, Belgium, Vietnam, and Mexico represented the major export destinations, collectively accounting for 43% of the exports in April. Germany imported 2.5k mt, Spain and Belgium both received 1.6k mt, Vietnam 1.5k mt, and Mexico 1.2k mt.
During the crop marketing year (September-August), total U.S. exports reached 249.4k mt, showing a year-over-year decrease of 78.2k mt (-24%), yet maintaining a 45.8k mt lead (+23%) compared to the average pace. The 2023/24 marketing year registered the highest U.S. pistachio exports, correlating with increased global demand.
Market dynamics recognize pistachio production alternating between "on-years" and "off-years," with 2024 categorized as an "off-year." Despite persistent demand, stakeholders do not foresee matching the previous year's export rate owing to supply constraints.
Updated USDA balance sheet projections (as of February 2025) target total exports of 360k mt for the 2024/25 marketing year. This objective necessitates an average monthly shipment of 27.7k mt through August. Contextually, the April-August monthly average over crop years 2019/20-2023/24 was 19.5k mt.
Source: Mintec/Expana