Browse Data and Analysis

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to rebound 11 percent to 1.5 MMT in MY 2024/25 supported by favorable growing conditions in major production areas. Improved world supplies and changing dietary concepts will likely drive nut imports to continue rising.

The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) published the draft "Standards for Nuts and Kernels of Almonds" for comment. The standards will replace the existing national standard on almond kernels (GB/T 30761-2014) and specify the quality...

Vietnam offers abundant opportunities for exporting consumer-oriented products, despite the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with high inflation. The Vietnamese economy is poised for significant expansion in the coming decades. With a burgeoning population and a growing middle class, Vietnamese consumers are becoming more discerning about the origin and composition of their food.

Thanks to consumers' growing preference for healthy food and earlier successful marketing of nuts and dried fruit products across the country, China's consumption and demand for nuts and dried fruit has exploded over the past few years.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to remain unchanged from the previous year at 1.4 MMT in MY 2023/24. Cold winter temperatures in Xinjiang damaged the almond crop this year.

The State Administration for Market Regulation issued the General Quality Standard for Nut and Seed Food, which will come into force on August 1, 2023.

Malaysia was the 26th-largest export destination for U.S. agricultural products in 2022, totaling nearly $1.1 billion in value, and is a top prospect for exports of food and beverage ingredients because of its large and growing food processing industry.

Japan has a well-developed food retail market that demands high-quality, high-value agricultural and food products. Despite reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, trade data show that agricultural imports have remained resilient.

U.S. agricultural exports to China in fiscal year (FY) 2022 were $36.4 billion and surpassed the previous year’s record with China as the largest export market for the second consecutive year. Significantly higher agricultural prices and resilient demand helped drive exports above the previous year’s record despite lower volumes for most products.

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for the proposed revision to allergy labeling requirements for walnuts in Japan’s Food Labeling Standards. CAA will accept comments in Japanese through November 12, 2022.

China’s inshell walnut production is forecast to increase by 27 percent in marketing year (MY) 2022/23, largely because of a production rebound in western China. Despite uncertainties over an economic slowdown and ongoing COVID restrictions, China’s almond imports are expected to pick up in MY 2022/23, given increased supplies and competitive prices.