A look at the tree nut market with Gerard Klijn
The cashew, pecan and macadamia tree nut markets are of huge and growing importance so we check in with Gerard Klijn, founder and CEO of Trade & Development Holding bv and renowned market specialists discusses the outlook for this hugely important crop. (1 of 2)
Growth in tree nut consumption
For all tree nuts, consumption has grown year-on-year. Collectively, production has grown by 47% over the past 10 years with nearly all tree nuts being consumed in the same year they are grown. While the production of all major types of tree nut is expanding, almonds, walnuts, and cashews are outperforming in volume. So, for example, while macadamia production has grown substantially, it has moved from 2% to 1.3% of the proportional tree “nut basket”.
Market dynamics of tree nuts
This growth is driven by massive growth in the awareness of the health benefits of nuts, including their role as part of weight-loss diets over the past 10-15 years. At the same time, there has been an increase in consumption across countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. The African markets are still in the early stages of nut consumption growth, but the outlook is very positive. Importantly, the market dynamics for other nuts, such as peanuts, can vary significantly, as they have more in common with agricultural commodities. This is partly because they serve different markets, such as oil production.
