The United States is Japan's main supplier of tree nuts.

According to a GAIN report issued by the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, Japan in 2021 imported 491 million USD worth of nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.), fresh or dried. Imports from the United States accounted for approximately USD 384 million, representing a share of 78.2%.

 

In terms of volumes, Japan in 2021 imported 42,489 tons of almonds of which 41,788 tons came from the United States. That same year, Japan imported 22,527 tons of nuts, of which 21,944 tons came from the United States and 2,344 tons of pistachios, of which 2,214 tons came from the United States.

 

The comparison of data, between 2021 and 2019, shows a strong increase in Japanese imports, with a total volume imported up by +17.3% for almonds, +29.3% for walnuts and +50 .6% for pistachios.

 

This rising demand could be explained, according to the report, by new trends focusing on health. Japanese consumers have become more health conscious and have become more knowledgeable about the nutritional benefits of tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios...).