Where Is the Global Pistachio Market Heading Next?

U.S. pistachio shipments hit new highs in the 2025/26 season through June 2026. As volumes to China stepped back, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia absorbed the flow — and then some. For food manufacturers, bakery and dessert brands, importers and distributors, the question is no longer whether pistachio demand exists. It is where it is moving next, and what that means for your sourcing and your next product launch.

A record season for U.S. pistachio shipments

Total U.S. pistachio shipments reached 998.18M lbs in the 2025/26 season through June 2026, up from 832.78M lbs the season before. Export shipments — the engine of this growth — climbed to 790.47M lbs, while domestic shipments rose modestly to 207.71M lbs.

What these numbers are. These are shipment volumes — domestic plus export — as reported by ACP. They describe trade flows and market activity. They are not a measure of global consumption, market size or end-consumer demand, and should not be read as one.

Every major region grew, led by the Middle East

U.S. pistachio export shipments grew across all five destination regions. The Middle East and Africa expanded fastest at +86%, while Europe — already the largest region — added another 21%. The growth is broad-based rather than concentrated in a single market.

The fastest-growing destination markets

And China? U.S. pistachio shipments to China fell to 27.8M lbs, down 82% from roughly 152.6M lbs the previous season — yet total U.S. exports still grew 25.1%. The flow did not vanish; it rerouted. USDA had already flagged this destination shift for the 2025/26 marketing year, which points to a sustained reallocation rather than a one-month anomaly.

Four markets, four application stories

Shipment signals matter most when they line up with real industry demand. These four markets combine strong shipment growth with mature or fast-developing application categories.

Europe has overtaken Asia

On the ACP shipment figures, Europe has overtaken Asia as the largest destination region for U.S. pistachios in the 2025/26 season through June. This is our analysis of the published figures, not an official ACP conclusion.

Strong shipments, firm pricing

For procurement teams, firm spot pricing alongside record shipments is a reason to bring price assumptions and supplier conversations forward in the planning calendar. Read it as a note of urgency, not alarm: this is a European spot indicator, and it is not evidence of a global shortage or a worldwide price surge.

What this means for your next pistachio product

Active global shipments, fast-growing destination markets and firm pricing add up to one practical conclusion: pistachio sourcing and product planning deserve an earlier start.

1. Plan earlier. In an active shipment and firm-price environment, confirm raw-material specifications, costs and supply plans earlier in your development calendar than you might otherwise.
2. Choose for the application. Different applications demand different colour, roast aroma, flow, particle size and stability performance. Specify for the end use, not just for kernel content.
3. Test before scaling. Run application trials and sample testing before committing to volume purchases and locking down a final recipe.

Where Nutoast fits

As a pistachio paste and nut ingredient manufacturer, we work with food manufacturers, brands and distribution partners from ingredient selection and samples through to application co-development — pistachio paste and nut ingredients, bakery and confectionery, beverages, gelato and ice cream, and kunafa or Dubai-style chocolate applications. Our application recipes show how these translate into finished products, and quality is backed by FDA, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, HACCP and Halal certification — the documents are on our about page.