The global pistachio market continues to show strong momentum, with demand consistently exceeding available supply. According to industry representatives cited in recent sector reports, consumption continues to grow, driven both by pistachios’ popularity as a snack and by their increasing use in processed products, ranging from confectionery to functional foods.
In the United States — the world’s leading producer — California’s 2025 crop was estimated at approximately 712,000 metric tons (in-shell), a figure significantly higher than the production recorded in 2024. This increase has partially eased product availability in the international market, although it has not been enough to fully balance the strong demand.
The global context also helps explain the pressure on supply. According to USDA projections, worldwide pistachio production for the 2025/26 season is expected to decline by about 8%, reaching roughly 1.1 million in-shell tons, mainly due to smaller crops in key producing countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Syria. This drop reinforces the trend of a structurally tight market.
At the same time, new players are beginning to gain prominence. Spain, for example, has rapidly expanded its planted area in recent years, gradually positioning itself as an emerging origin in international trade, particularly in the premium segment based on traceability and sustainable agricultural practices.
In this context, pistachios are consolidating their position as one of the nuts with the strongest growth potential in the global food trade, within a market characterized by expanding consumption, diversification of origins, and a supply that is still struggling to keep pace with demand.
Sources: FreshPlaza; USDA, American Pistachio Growers.
