According to EastFruit analysts, in 2023 Kyrgyzstan sharply increased walnut imports from China. During the first four months of the current calendar year, China shipped 25.5 thousand tons of walnuts to the Kyrgyz market. Of this volume, 14.4 thousand tons were inshell walnuts, and 10.9 thousand tons were walnut kernels. Thus, imports of walnuts in shell increased by 4.3 times compared to the same period of the last year, and kernels – by 3.5 times, and both indicators were record high.
Interestingly, according to official trade statistics, Kyrgyzstan has become a net importer of walnuts in recent years, although this crop is considered traditional for the country. Walnuts are considered a forest crop in Kyrgyzstan, since these nuts were traditionally harvested in walnut forests located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. A large and widely known walnut forest is located in the mountains of the Jalal-Abad region at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level near the village of Arslanbob. Many sources claim that this walnut forest is the largest in the world and is located in the protected area of Kyrgyzstan.
According to the analysts the walnuts exported to Kyrgyzstan from China are most likely only partially intended for domestic consumption. Most likely, part of it is re-exported to other markets. Since Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEC) along with a number of other countries in the region, it cannot be ruled out that not all export flows are correctly reflected in trade statistics.
Kyrgyzstan traditionally exports the bulk of walnuts to the Russian market. Also, significant volumes of these nuts are supplied from Kyrgyzstan to the markets of Turkey, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.