The 10 largest producing and exporting pistachio countries in the world, including an Arab country economy

Al -Jazeera Net Correspondents

Did you know that this small pill that you see on the nuts dish carry thousands of years of history and generates billions of dollars annually? Pistachio, or what is known as pistachios, exceeded that it is just a snack to become an essential economic and commercial element for a number of countries around the world.

Pistachio has a unique taste and high nutritional value, making it one of the most demanding and consumed nuts at the global level. The diversity of its uses and the ease of its inclusion in foods and sweets helped to establish its position as “green gold” in the nuts market. The global production of pistachios has continued to grow over the years, so that some countries occupy pioneering sites in its cultivation and export.

According to the statements of the US Foreign Agricultural Services Authority, the volume of global pistachios for the 2024/2025 season amounted to 1.18 million metric tons, while the global market volume increased from $ 5.25 billion in 2023 to $ 5.51 billion in 2024.

Expectations indicate that the market will continue to expand to 7.32 billion dollars by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 4.85%, according to the “Reservation & Markets” platform.

This growth comes driven by several factors, most notably the increased demand for healthy foods, the breadth of vegetarians, and innovation in products derived from pistachios. Among the supporting factors also:

• The growing popularity of Mediterranean diets
• E -commerce expansion
• The diversity of forms of consumption and new products

Despite this expansion, the market is not without challenges, such as:

• Weather fluctuations and climate change
• The volatile political situation in some areas of production, such as Syria and Afghanistan
• High costs of agriculture and transportation
• The increasing competition from alternatives such as almonds and cashews

That is why agricultural sustainability and innovation in manufacturing and marketing methods are necessary factors to maintain competitiveness.

10 most productive countries for pistachios in the world (2024/2025)

The United States, Turkey and Iran are the major powers in pistachios, as they form more than half of global production. Other countries such as China, Syria and Afghanistan also emerge as major market players, whether for local production or export.

The following is a list of the largest producing countries of pistachios, according to the data of the US Foreign Services Authority and the “S Fed” platform specialized in food supply chains:

1. United States: 503.2 thousand metric tons
2. Türkiye: 385 thousand metric tons
3. Iran: 200 thousand tons of meters
4. China: 113.4 thousand metric tons
5. Afghanistan: 68 thousand metric tons
6. Syria: 55 thousand metric tons
7. Greece: 54.4 thousand metric tons
8. Italy: 45.4 thousand metric tons
9. Uzbekistan: 36.3 thousand metric tons
10. Spain: 31.7 thousand metric tons

The 10 largest exporters of pistachio in the world (2023)

Countries like the United States, Iran and Turkey have huge export capabilities, benefiting from the surplus production and advanced logistical infrastructure. Also, some countries, such as the Netherlands and the UAE, play a mediator role as re -export centers.

According to the data of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, here is the list of the most exporting pistachios (dollar value):

1. United States: 330 million dollars
2. Iran: 189 million dollars
3. Türkiye: 167 million dollars
4. Germany: 69.5 million dollars
5. Afghanistan: 35.1 million dollars
6. The Netherlands: 33.3 million dollars
7. United Arab Emirates: 32.2 million dollars
8. Syria: $ 31 million
9. Italy: 24.2 million dollars
10. Spain: 24.1 million dollars

The 10 largest importers of pistachios in the world (2023)

On the other hand, many countries, especially European and Arab, import large quantities of pistachios to meet the increasing demand for food and health products.

Below are the largest importing countries of pistachios (dollar value):

1. Germany: 174 million dollars
2. Italy: 170 million dollars
3. Türkiye: 107 million dollars
4. India: 72.3 million dollars
5. United Arab Emirates: 46.5 million dollars
6. Saudi Arabia: 43.5 million dollars
7. Jordan: 37.2 million dollars
8. Iraq: 29.7 million dollars
9. UK: 28.2 million dollars
10. France: 28.1 million dollars

5 facts you may not know about pistachios

Because pistachios are not just an economic commodity, here is some funny and historical information that gives a cultural dimension to these distinctive nuts, according to what was published by the American company “Misi Jins”:

• Happiness symbol around the world: In China, it is known as the “happy nut”, and in Iran as “smiling nuts”, given the opening of its shell. It is presented as a gift on occasions for the symbolism of luck.

• Human companion for thousands of years: Pistachio has been believed to have accompanied man for more than 9,000 years, making it one of the oldest nuts in human food history.
• Kings Food: Myths state that the Queen of Sheba was fond of pistachios to the extent that she had allocated its crops to the royal family only, which justifies his association with luxury and scarcity.
• A rich source of protein: One share (approximately 49 tablets) contains 6 grams of protein, which is almost equivalent to the content of one egg.
• Snack and healthy: Studies indicate that pistachios contribute to lowering cholesterol, improving blood pressure, and enhancing bowel health, as well as it contains antioxidants and vitamins.