Almonds account for largest share of U.S. tree nut exports

The United States is second to China in world production of tree nuts--producing more than one-tenth of the world's tree nuts. Exports of tree nuts averaged over 45 percent of U.S. tree nut supplies during the 2000s, up slightly from the 1990s and more than 60 percent above the average share during the 1980s. Almonds accounted for nearly 70 percent U.S. tree nut export volume in recent years, averaging over 970 million pounds (shelled basis) or almost three-quarters of world almond exports. Following almonds are walnuts and pistachios with over 10 percent and about 7 percent, respectively, of total tree nut exports. The major export destinations for U.S. tree nuts are Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands in the European Union; Canada and Mexico; and Hong Kong, Japan, India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan in Asia.