Overall, exports of macadamia nuts dropped in sales by an average -15.6% since five years earlier 2020 when export revenues for macadamia nuts totaled $839.9 million.
Year over year, worldwide export revenues for the rich and buttery tasting nuts grew by 10.4% compared to $642.3 million in exports during 2023.
Fresh or dried macadamia nuts in shell accounted for 40.7% of total export sales in 2024, compared to the remaining 59.3% collected in revenues for exported fresh or dried macadamia nuts that have been shelled. The share for shelled macadamia nuts deteriorated from 69.2% for 2023.
Raw macadamia nut seeds come from the fruits of macadamia trees–a genus noted for relatively shallow roots. This attribute makes macadamia trees susceptible to destruction by storm winds.
Macadamia nuts are rich in selenium, a valued antioxidant that bolsters the quality of blood flow, resistance to disease, and defends against inflammation.
Wide-scale commercial products of macadamias began during the 1880s in Hawaii when Australian seeds were planted. Outpacing Australia since the 2010s, South Africa is now the world’s biggest producers of macadamia nuts.
Macadamia nuts are the world’s costliest nut in part due to its slow harvesting cycle.
Interestingly, macadamias can be toxic to dogs. In contrast, macadamia nuts are often fed to large parrots in captivity since these birds are one of the few animals capable of cracking the macadamia nut’s shell in order to eat the seed inside.
Major Suppliers of Macadamia Nuts on Global Markets
By value, the 5 biggest exporters of macadamia nuts are South Africa, Australia, Kenya, mainland China and the Netherlands. Collectively, that cohort of major suppliers sold 82.8% of all shelled and unshelled macadamias exported during 2024 as measured by value.
Applying a continental perspective, countries in Africa supplied the highest dollar worth of exported macadamia nuts during 2024 with shipments valued at $414 million or 58.4% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Oceania (23.1%) led by Australia, trailed by international sellers in Asia (8.2%), Europe (5.2%), Latin America (2.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then North America (2.1%) mostly the United States of America.
Most Valuable Customers for Imported Macadamia Nuts
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of macadamia nuts in 2024 were the mainland China, United States of America, Germany, Vietnam and Japan. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought over two-thirds (71%) of globally imported macadamia nuts as measured by dollar value (a total US$685.5 million).
The above percentages suggest exporters of macadamia nuts (82.8% for the corresponding top 5 out of 74 exporters) is a more concentrated group compared to about 120 importing countries, islands and territories. Specifically, the top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total for imported macadamia nuts at the aforementioned 71%.
As for global imports of macadamia nuts distributed by continent, 63.2% of macadamia nuts purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia. In second place were importers in Europe (17.1%), North America (14.9%), Africa (2.8%), Oceania (1.8%) led by New Zealand, then Latin America (0.1%).
Average Unit Prices by Type of Macadamia Nuts
We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of macadamia nuts still in-shell to be $2,635 per ton in 2024. That dollar amount reflects 4.4% in inflation from the average tonnage rate of $2,524 during 2023.
Imports of shelled macadamia nuts demand a higher unit price. For shelled macadamia nuts, the average unit price paid by importers was $10,145 per ton in 2024 down by -7.7% from the average tonnage rate of $10,997 for 2023. In part, the higher average costs for shelled nuts result from shelling labor costs and other processing expenses.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080261 for fresh or dried macadamia nuts in shell, and 080262 for fresh or dried shelled macadamia nuts.
Top Macadamia Nuts Exports by Country
Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of macadamia nuts during 2024, regardless of whether the shipped macadamia nuts were in-shell or shelled.
- South Africa: US$293.2 million (41.4% of exported macadamia nuts)
- Australia: $164 million (23.1%)
- Kenya: $75.2 million (10.6%)
- mainland China: $35.9 million (5.1%)
- Netherlands: $18.9 million (2.7%)
- Vietnam: $17.5 million (2.5%)
- Guatemala: $17.2 million (2.4%)
- Zimbabwe: $16.1 million (2.3%)
- Malawi: $15.9 million (2.2%)
- United States: $14.6 million (2.1%)
- Mozambique: $9.1 million (1.3%)
- Germany: $9.1 million (1.3%)
- Zambia: $3 million (0.4%)
- Brazil: $3 million (0.4%)
- Singapore: $2.9 million (0.4%)
- Belgium: $2.8 million (0.4%)
- Greece: $1.3 million (0.2%)
- Spain: $1.2 million (0.2%)
- Poland: $884,000 (0.1%)
- Eswatini: $740,000 (0.1%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 99.1% of globally exported macadamia nuts in 2024.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing macadamia nuts exporters since 2023 were: Poland (up 399.4%), Singapore (up 225.4%), Eswatini (up 184.6%) and Zimbabwe (up 144.4%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported macadamia nuts sales were led by: Belgium (down -55.1% from 2023), Germany (down -29.3%), Brazil (down -22%), mainland China (down -13.8%) and Vietnam (down -8.1%).
Top Macadamia Nuts Imported by Country
Overall spending on imported macadamia nuts at $685.5 million fell by -5.9% over the 5-year period starting from $728.7 million in 2020 but generated a 7.3% year-over-year gain compared to $639.1 million for 2023.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of macadamia nuts imported during 2024, for any macadamia nuts regardless of whether shelled or not.
- mainland China: US$244.2 million (35.6% of imported macadamia nuts)
- United States: $133.5 million (19.5%)
- Germany: $39 million (5.7%)
- Vietnam: $38.4 million (5.6%)
- Japan: $31.8 million (4.6%)
- Netherlands: $24.8 million (3.6%)
- Austria: $22.8 million (3.3%)
- South Korea: $19.4 million (2.8%)
- Taiwan: $15.9 million (2.3%)
- Spain: $13.5 million (2%)
- Singapore: $11.1 million (1.6%)
- Australia: $10.1 million (1.5%)
- United Kingdom: $7.1 million (1%)
- Thailand: $7.1 million (1%)
- Belgium: $5.9 million (0.9%)
- Israel: $4.6 million (0.7%)
- Poland: $4.4 million (0.6%)
- Saudi Arabia: $4.2 million (0.6%)
- Canada: $3.9 million (0.6%)
- Hong Kong: $3.8 million (0.6%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 94.2% of globally imported macadamia nuts in 2024.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing macadamia nuts importers since 2023 were: Australia (up 18,652%), Taiwan (up 60.9%), Austria (up 60.7%) and the United Kingdom (up 49.9%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported macadamia nuts purchases were led by: Singapore (down -73% from 2023), Thailand (down -34.4%), Belgium (down -29.2%), Israel (down -24.1%) and Hong Kong (down -12.7%).
Imported In-Shell Macadamia Nuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imports of in-shell macadamia nuts was US$2,533 per ton. That average metric was down -24.7% from $3,366 per ton for 2023.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of unshelled macadamia nuts, mainland China, was modestly higher at $2,690 per ton for 2024.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported in-shell macadamia nuts in 2024.
- Uzbekistan: US$156 per ton (down -88.7% from 2023)
- Tanzania: $500 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Kazakhstan: $754 per ton (down -27.9%)
- Türkiye: $786 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Democratic Republic Congo: $833 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Lesotho: $1,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Indonesia: $1,000 per ton (down -91.8%)
- Thailand: $1,292 per ton (up 29.2%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1,424 per ton (up 2.7%)
- Kenya: $1,484 per ton (up 281.5%)
- Australia: $1,673 per ton (up 46.1%)
- South Africa: $1,827 per ton (down -8.9%)
- Lithuania: $1,889 per ton (up 163.8%)
- Mexico: $1,923 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Curaçao: $2,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
Reductions in average unit price per ton for in-shell macadamia nuts were paid by customers in Indonesia (down -91.8% from 2023), Uzbekistan (down -88.7%), Kazakhstan (down -27.9%) and South Africa (down -8.9%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported in-shell macadamia nuts.
- Qatar: US$38,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Canada: $35,000 per ton (up 483.3% from 2023)
- Austria: $16,250 per ton (down -14.5%)
- Singapore: $13,167 per ton (up 132.3%)
- New Zealand: $12,333 per ton (down -5.1%)
- Greece: $12,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Bulgaria: $11,750 per ton (up 2.2%)
- Romania: $11,500 per ton (up 4.5%)
- Croatia: $10,000 per ton (up 350.9%)
- Czech Republic: $9,833 per ton (down -25.8%)
- Netherlands: $9,818 per ton (down -49.3%)
- Moldova: $9,444 per ton (up 34.9%)
- Philippines: $9,400 per ton (down -11.9%)
- Portugal: $9,000 per ton (down -5.3%)
- Macao: $9,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
The strongest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2024 compared to 2023 were experienced by buyers of in-shell macadamia nuts in Canada (up 483.3%), Croatia (up 350.9%) and Singapore (up 132.3%).
Imported Shelled Macadamia Nuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imports of shelled macadamia nuts was US$10,145 per ton. That dollar metric reflects a -7.7% drop from an average $10,997 per ton during 2023.
The average tonnage charge paid by the number one importer of shelled macadamia nuts, the United States of America, was costlier at $13,478 in 2024.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported macadamia nuts in 2024 that that have already had their shells removed.
- Kazakhstan: US$1,125 per ton (up 106.4% from 2023)
- Lesotho: $1,400 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Kenya: $1,423 per ton (up 42.3%)
- Sri Lanka: $1,600 per ton (down -36%)
- Hungary: $1,640 per ton (down -90.6%)
- Namibia: $1,667 per ton (down -58.3%)
- Albania: $2,250 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Mozambique: $3,500 per ton (down -30%)
- Zimbabwe: $3,500 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Russia: $3,633 per ton (down -69.2%)
- Trinidad/Tobago: $4,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Libya: $4,500 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- South Africa: $4,772 per ton (down -11.8%)
- Uruguay: $6,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Türkiye: $6,741 per ton (down -31.3%)
The greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for shelled macadamia nuts were enjoyed by low-cost importers in Hungary (down -90.6% from 2023), Russia (down -69.2%), Namibia (down -58.3%), Sri Lanka (down -36%), Türkiye (down -31.3%) and Mozambique (down -30%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported macadamia nuts with shells removed.
- Moldova: US$22,000 per ton (up 144.4% from 2023)
- Georgia: $19,000 per ton (up 52%)
- Curaçao: $18,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Romania: $17,222 per ton (up 58%)
- US Minor Outlying Islands: $17,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Iceland: $17,000 per ton (up 129.7%)
- Croatia: $16,333 per ton (up 48.5%)
- Ukraine: $16,000 per ton (down -48.4%)
- Kuwait: $15,842 per ton (down -0.2%)
- Ireland: $15,563 per ton (down -9.8%)
- Serbia: $15,000 per ton (up 36.4%)
- Hong Kong: $14,591 per ton (up 9.8%)
- Slovenia: $14,222 per ton (up 73.4%)
- Portugal: $14,200 per ton (up 2.9%)
- Syria: $14,000 per ton (up 7.7%)
The greatest year-over-year growth in average unit prices belonged to importers in Moldova (up 144.4% from 2023), Iceland (up 129.7%), Slovenia (up 73.4%) then Romania (up 58%).
See also Top Peanuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Almonds Exporters by Country, Top Walnut Exporters by Country and Top Cashews Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Pistachios Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Hazelnuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Chestnuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Macadamia Nut Showroom. Accessed on May 20, 2025
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 20, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 20, 2025
Wikipedia, Macadamia. Accessed on May 20, 2025