Overall, exports of macadamia nuts dropped in sales by an average -33.5% since five years earlier 2019 when export revenues for macadamia nuts totaled $977.3 million.
Year over year, worldwide export revenues for the rich and buttery tasting nuts shrank by -27.5% compared to $896.4 million in exports during 2022.
Fresh or dried macadamia nuts in shell accounted for 32% of total export sales in 2023, compared to the remaining 68% 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 2022.
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 United States of America. Collectively, that cohort of major suppliers sold 78.9% of all shelled and unshelled macadamias exported during 2023 as measured by value.
Applying a continental perspective, countries in Africa supplied the highest dollar worth of exported macadamia nuts during 2023 with shipments valued at $445.1 million or 54.2% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Oceania (26.1%) led by Australia, trailed by international sellers in Asia (7.3%), Europe (5.9%), Latin America (4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then North America (2.4%) 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 2023 were the mainland China, United States of America, Germany, Vietnam and Japan. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought almost three-quarters (73.3%) of globally imported macadamia nuts as measured by dollar value.
The above percentages suggest exporters of macadamia nuts (78.9% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated group compared to more than 100 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 73.3%.
As for global imports of macadamia nuts distributed by continent, 61.9% of macadamia nuts purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia. In second place were importers in Europe (19.6%), North America (15.3%), Africa (2.7%), Oceania (0.3%) 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 $2,533 per ton in 2023. That dollar amount reflects a -24.7% discount from the average tonnage rate of $3,366 during 2022.
Imports of shelled macadamia nuts demand a higher unit price. For shelled macadamia nuts, the average unit price paid by importers was $10,667 per ton in 2023 down by -26.5% from the average tonnage rate of $14,508 for 2022. Overall, the higher average costs for shelled nuts result in part 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 2023, regardless of whether the shipped macadamia nuts were in-shell or shelled.
- South Africa: US$243.1 million (37.4% of exported macadamia nuts)
- Australia: $164.8 million (25.3%)
- Kenya: $48.5 million (7.5%)
- China: $39 million (6%)
- United States: $18 million (2.8%)
- Germany: $17.6 million (2.7%)
- Netherlands: $17 million (2.6%)
- Guatemala: $16.3 million (2.5%)
- Malawi: $16.1 million (2.5%)
- Viet Nam: $13 million (2%)
- Mozambique: $11.4 million (1.8%)
- Zimbabwe: $9.9 million (1.5%)
- France: $7.9 million (1.2%)
- Belgium: $6.2 million (1%)
- Hong Kong: $5.2 million (0.8%)
- Brazil: $2.8 million (0.4%)
- Zambia: $2.3 million (0.4%)
- Rwanda: $1.8 million (0.3%)
- Greece: $1.2 million (0.2%)
- Spain: $1 million (0.2%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 98.9% of globally exported macadamia nuts in 2023.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing macadamia nuts exporters since 2022 were: Belgium (up 5,626%), France (up 291.9%), Zambia (up 48.4%) and Greece (up 39.3%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported macadamia nuts sales were led by: Hong Kong (down -72.7% from 2022), Brazil (down -66.2%), Guatemala (down -63.9%), Kenya (down -52.9%) and the Netherlands (down -42%).
Top Macadamia Nuts Imported by Country
Overall spending on imported macadamia nuts at $653.3 million fell by -18.6% over the 5-year period starting from $802.4 million in 2019 and incurred a -15.6% year-over-year gain compared to $774.4 million for 2022.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of macadamia nuts imported during 2023, for any macadamia nuts regardless of whether shelled or not.
- China: US$245.9 million (37.6% of imported macadamia nuts)
- United States: $126.2 million (19.3%)
- Germany: $39.7 million (6.1%)
- Vietnam: $35.6 million (5.4%)
- Japan: $31.4 million (4.8%)
- Netherlands: $22.8 million (3.5%)
- South Africa: $22.6 million (3.5%)
- South Korea: $14 million (2.1%)
- Hong Kong: $11.2 million (1.7%)
- Taiwan: $9.8 million (1.5%)
- Spain: $9.3 million (1.4%)
- France: $8.7 million (1.3%)
- Belgium: $8.4 million (1.3%)
- Thailand: $6.5 million (1%)
- Malaysia: $4.7 million (0.7%)
- United Kingdom: $4.6 million (0.7%)
- Poland: $4.2 million (0.6%)
- Canada: $4.1 million (0.6%)
- United Arab Emirates: $3.7 million (0.6%)
- Israel: $3.6 million (0.6%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 94.4% of globally imported macadamia nuts in 2023.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing macadamia nuts importers since 2023 were: Belgium (up 1,015%), Poland (up 76.5%), South Africa (up 44.9%) and Vietnam (up 16.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported macadamia nuts purchases were led by: Hong Kong (down -75.4% from 2022), Thailand (down -44.4%), Netherlands (down -40.3%), Canada (down -35.9%) and Japan (down -34.3%).
Imported In-Shell Macadamia Nuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2023, 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 2022.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of unshelled macadamia nuts, mainland China, was modestly higher at $2,651 per ton.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported in-shell macadamia nuts in 2023.
- Kenya: US$389 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Kyrgyzstan: $403 per ton (down -3.6% from 2022)
- Lithuania: $716 per ton (down -19.5%)
- Thailand: $1,000 per ton (up 7%)
- Mozambique: $1,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Kazakhstan: $1,046 per ton (down -31%)
- Australia: $1,145 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Malawi: $1,241 per ton (down -49.9%)
- United States of America: $1,932 per ton (up 12.3%)
- Botswana: $2,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- South Africa: $2,005 per ton (down -30%)
- Croatia: $2,218 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Vietnam: $2,254 per ton (down -35.5%)
- Costa Rica: $2,321 per ton (down -31.8%)
- Denmark: $2,500 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
The severest reductions in average unit price per ton for in-shell macadamia nuts were paid by customers in Malawi (down -49.9% from 2022), Vietnam (down -35.5%), Costa Rica (down -31.8%), Kazakhstan (down -31%) and South Africa (down -30%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported in-shell macadamia nuts.
- Maldives: US$29,000 per ton (down -21.6% from 2022)
- Netherlands: $19,367 per ton (up 60.2%)
- Austria: $19,000 per ton (down -30.7%)
- Lebanon: $16,333 per ton (down -14%)
- Hungary: $16,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Czech Republic: $13,250 per ton (up 1.9%)
- New Zealand: $13,000 per ton (down -10.3%)
- Indonesia: $12,200 per ton (down -6.2%)
- Bulgaria: $11,500 per ton (down -35.2%)
- Romania: $11,000 per ton (up 57.1%)
- Philippines: $10,667 per ton (down -11.1%)
- United Kingdom: $9,800 per ton (down -6.7%)
- Belgium: $9,739 per ton (up 110.6%)
- Spain: $9,615 per ton (up 260.5%)
- Azerbaijan: $9,600 per ton (down -38.1%)
The strongest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2023 compared to 2022 were experienced by buyers of in-shell macadamia nuts in Spain (up 260.5%), Belgium (up 110.6%), Netherlands (up 60.2%) and Romania (up 57.1%).
Imported Shelled Macadamia Nuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2023, the world’s average unit price for imports of shelled macadamia nuts was US$10,667 per ton. That dollar metric reflects a -26.5% drop from an average $14,508 per ton during 2022.
The average tonnage charge paid by the number one importer of shelled macadamia nuts, the United States of America, was costlier at $14,648 in 2023.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported macadamia nuts in 2023 that that have already had their shells removed.
- Malta: US$385 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Afghanistan: $455 per ton (down -13% from 2022)
- Kyrgyzstan: $474 per ton (up 26.4%)
- Kazakhstan: $545 per ton (up 336%)
- Kenya: $1,000 per ton (down -86.1%)
- Zambia: $1,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Guyana: $1,500 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Sri Lanka: $2,500 per ton (up 66.7%)
- Jamaica: $3,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Mozambique: $4,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Namibia: $4,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Lesotho: $4,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Nicaragua: $5,333 per ton (down -40.7%)
- South Africa: $5,411 per ton (down -28.4%)
- Vietnam: $5,561 per ton (down -65.7%)
The greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for shelled macadamia nuts were enjoyed by low-cost importers in Kenya (down -86.1% from 2022), Vietnam (down -65.7%), Nicaragua (down -40.7%), South Africa (down -28.4%) and Afghanistan (down -13%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported macadamia nuts with shells removed.
- Maldives: US$39,000 per ton (up 11.4% from 2022)
- Ukraine: $31,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Mauritius: $21,000 per ton (up 50%)
- Estonia: $20,500 per ton (down -33.9%)
- Bermuda: $20,000 per ton (up 8.1%)
- Hungary: $17,500 per ton (down -16.7%)
- Ireland: $17,250 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Morocco: $16,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Finland: $15,000 per ton (down -26.8%)
- Philippines: $14,882 per ton (down -1.9%)
- United States of America: $14,648 per ton (down -0.5%)
- Indonesia: $14,556 per ton (down -21.7%)
- Switzerland: $14,477 per ton (down -15.6%)
- Ecuador: $14,111 per ton (down -18.4%)
- Costa Rica: $14,040 per ton (down -13.4%)
Growth specific to buyers paying the highest average unit prices was restricted to importers in Mauritius (up 50% from 2022), Maldives (up 11.4%) then Bermuda (up 8.1%).
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 July 19, 2024
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 19, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 19, 2024
Wikipedia, Macadamia. Accessed on July 19, 2024