News Capsule: US Walnut Exports Surge, But Shipments to India Fall 8.4%
02-Jun-2026 09:47 AM
News Capsule: US Walnut Exports Surge, But Shipments to India Fall 8.4%
★ Global demand for in-shell walnuts has increased sharply, leading to a strong recovery in overall US walnut exports. However, shipments to India have declined during the current season.
★ According to the California Walnut Board (CWB), US in-shell walnut exports rose to 23.7 million pounds in April 2026, compared with just 4.3 million pounds in April 2025. Domestic shipments also increased from 1.3 million pounds to 2.9 million pounds. As a result, total shipments for April reached 26.6 million pounds, more than five times higher than the same month last year.
★ Exports to countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Morocco recorded substantial gains. Total US walnut shipments to the Middle East and Africa reached 172.9 million pounds, nearly five times higher than the 34.7 million pounds shipped during the previous season.
★ India, however, showed a different trend. US walnut exports to India declined from 28,900 tonnes in 2024-25 to 26,464 tonnes in 2025-26. This represents a decrease of 2,436 tonnes, or 8.4% year-on-year.
★ The decline is attributed to better local availability, price competition, and alternative sources of supply in the Indian market, which have limited demand for US walnuts.
★ Meanwhile, China is expected to play a crucial role in the global walnut market during the coming season, with its growing influence on both production and exports likely to shape international trade dynamics.
★ For the Indian dry fruit market, the situation highlights an important trend: despite strong global demand for US walnuts, imports into India have weakened, making future price movements and import trends worth monitoring closely.