Exports of peanuts dropped in value by an overall average -9.9% since back in 2021 when global export sales for peanuts totaled $4.16 billion.
Year over year, overall export revenues for the popular snacking nut declined by -13.7% compared to $4.34 billion during 2024.
Peanuts are edible seeds of a legume crop plant unique because peanut pods grow under the soil rather than above ground.
Whole peanuts can be dry roasted, boiled, baked or eaten raw as a snack food. Peanuts are also ingredients to make peanut oil, peanut butter and peanut flour.
Little-known industrial uses for peanuts encompass paint, varnish, lubricating oil, leather dressings, furniture polish, insecticides, soap and cosmetics. Peanut shells go into making plastics, wallboard, abrasives, rayon cellulose used for paper, mucilage and fuel.
By value, the 5 biggest exporters of peanuts in 2025 were India, United States of America, Brazil, mainland China then the Netherlands. Combined, that leading cohort sold approaching three-fifths (58.1%) of exported peanuts sold worldwide during 2025.
Applying a continental perspective, countries in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean supplied the highest dollar worth of exported peanuts during 2025 with shipments valued at $1.46 billion or 39.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (30.2%) trailed by those in North America (13.1%), Europe (9.9%), Africa (18.7%), then Oceania (0.02%) including Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of peanuts in 2025 were the Netherlands, Indonesia, Mexico, mainland China and Germany. Combined, that quintet of top importer countries bought over two-fifths (40.9%) of globally imported peanuts as measured by dollar value.
The above percentages suggest the total 111 exporters of peanuts (58.1% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 167 importing countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of the corresponding world total at 40.9% as mentioned above.
As for global imports of peanuts by continent, 47.2% of peanuts purchased on international markets was delivered to customers located in Europe ahead of importers in Asia (31.4%) then North America (11.1%), Africa (5.8%), Latin America (3.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Other Key Facts About Exported and Imported Peanuts
We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of peanuts still in-shell to be $1,209 per ton in 2025. That dollar amount reflects a 12.3% increase from the average tonnage cost of $1,077 during 2024.
Imports of shelled peanuts demand a higher unit price. For shelled peanuts, the average unit price paid by importers was $1,317 per ton in 2025 even after considering economies of scale from higher volumes–up by -3% from $1,279 per ton for 2024.
The overall greater average price for shelled peanuts results partly from labor costs and other processing expenses.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 120251 for peanuts in shell, and 120252 for shelled peanuts. Note that peanuts are classified under oil seeds and are sometimes called groundnuts.
Drilling down on those categories, 91% of peanuts exported worldwide by sales were for shelled peanuts. The remaining 9% was paid for peanuts in shell (compared to 9.4% for 2024).
Top Peanuts Exports by Country
Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of peanuts during 2025, regardless of whether the shipped peanuts were in-shell or shelled.
- India: US$746.1 million (19.9% of total exported peanuts)
- United States: $490.4 million (13.1%)
- Brazil: $366.9 million (9.8%)
- mainland China: $288.2 million (7.7%)
- Netherlands: $284.5 million (7.6%)
- Egypt: $132.2 million (3.5%)
- Nicaragua: $107.3 million (2.9%)
- Tanzania: $35 million (0.9%)
- Germany: $27 million (0.7%)
- South Africa: $25.8 million (0.7%)
- Myanmar: $23.6 million (0.6%)
- Senegal: $18.2 million (0.5%)
- Malaysia: $15.5 million (0.4%)
- Bolivia: $15.1 million (0.4%)
- Vietnam: $14.3 million (0.4%)
- Sudan: $14.1 million (0.4%)
- Madagascar: $13.8 million (0.4%)
- Belgium: $12.9 million (0.3%)
- Malawi: $11.8 million (0.3%)
- Israel: $11 million (0.3%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 70.8% of globally exported peanuts in 2025.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing peanuts exporters since 2024 were: Myanmar (up 228%), South Africa (up 117.4%), Malaysia (up 99.8%) and Tanzania (up 38.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported peanuts sales were led by: Sudan (down -95.9% from 2024), Senegal (down -83.1%), Vietnam (down -61.5%), Malawi (down -59.6%) and Germany (down -30.5%).
Top Peanuts Imports by Country
International spending on imported peanuts decreased by -17.2% year over year starting from $4.82 billion in 2024 to $4 billion for 2025.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of peanuts imported during 2025, for any peanuts regardless of whether shelled or not.
- Netherlands: US$592.5 million (14.8% of total imported peanuts)
- Indonesia: $323.9 million (8.1%)
- Mexico: $257 million (6.4%)
- mainland China: $232.7 million (5.8%)
- Germany: $226.2 million (5.7%)
- Canada: $179.6 million (4.5%)
- United Kingdom: $166.6 million (4.2%)
- Vietnam: $153.7 million (3.8%)
- Russia: $137.7 million (3.4%)
- Poland: $118.9 million (3%)
- Spain: $104.9 million (2.6%)
- Italy: $103.7 million (2.6%)
- France: $101.2 million (2.5%)
- Philippines: $79.6 million (2%)
- Algeria: $71.9 million (1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $56.4 million (1.4%)
- Thailand: $53.2 million (1.3%)
- Malaysia: $44.7 million (1.1%)
- Rwanda: $40.3 million (1%)
- South Africa: $37.9 million (0.9%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 77.2% of globally imported peanuts in 2025—down from 81.3% for 2024.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing peanuts importers since 2024 were: United Arab Emirates (up 69.1%), Philippines (up 28.5%), Italy (up 15.3%) and Vietnam (up 12.7%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported peanuts purchases were led by: mainland China (down -67.4% from 2024), Algeria (down -31.7%), Russia (down -28.9%), Poland (down -23.3%) and Indonesia (down -22.7%).
Imported In-Shell Peanuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imports of in-shell peanuts was US$1,209 per ton inflating by an average 12.3% from $1,077 five years earlier.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of in-shell peanuts as measured by shipment weight, mainland China, was significantly lower at $736.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported in-shell peanuts in 2025.
- Burkina Faso: US$12 per ton (down -53.8% from 2021)
- Kenya: $39 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Ivory Coast: $79 per ton (down -10.2%)
- Senegal: $89 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Mali: $105 per ton (up 43.8%)
- Mauritania: $136 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Guinea: $180 per ton (up 97.8%)
- Angola: $250 per ton (up 247.2%)
- Cambodia: $269 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Malawi: $302 per ton (down -81.2%)
- Argentina: $308 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Democratic Republic Congo: $333 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Comoros: $352 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Kazakhstan: $404 per ton (down -15.8%)
- Laos: $488 per ton (down -2.4%)
Reductions in average unit price paid per ton for in-shell peanuts among the above low-cost importers belonged to Malawi (down -81.2% from 2021), Burkina Faso (down -53.8%), Kazakhstan (down -15.8%), Ivory Coast (down -10.2%) and Laos (down -2.4%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported in-shell peanuts.
- Venezuela: US$7,000 per ton (up 677.8% from 2021)
- Gibraltar: $5,500 per ton (up 69.2%)
- Namibia: $5,500 per ton (up 450%)
- Bahamas: $4,000 per ton (down -56.4%)
- Antigua/Barbuda: $4,000 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Estonia: $4,000 per ton (up 131.6%)
- Saint Lucia: $4,000 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Macao: $4,000 per ton (up 300%)
- Latvia: $3,875 per ton (up 166.1%)
- Aruba: $3,750 per ton (up 37.8%)
- Denmark: $3,371 per ton (up 106.8%)
- Guatemala: $3,333 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Maldives: $3,238 per ton (down -7.5%)
- Austria: $3,089 per ton (up 33.5%)
- Australia: $3,000 per ton (up 137.2%)
The strongest inflation in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2025 compared to 2021 were paid by importers in Venezuela (up 677.8%), Namibia (up 450%), Macao (up 300%), Latvia (up 166.1%) and Australia (up 137.2%).
Imported Shelled Peanuts: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imports of shelled peanuts was US$1,317 per ton up by an average 3% from $1,279 five years earlier for 2021.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of shelled peanuts, mainland China, was lesser at $913.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported peanuts in 2025 that that have already had their shells removed.
- Burkina Faso: US$49 per ton (2021 data unavailble from 2021)
- Mali: $68 per ton (down -51.1%)
- Mauritania: $105 per ton (down -16%)
- Benin: $127 per ton (down -69.5%)
- Senegal: $175 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Ghana: $176 per ton (down -64.8%)
- Ivory Coast: $235 per ton (up 29.8%)
- Guinea: $244 per ton (up 154.2%)
- Sierra Leone: $275 per ton (up 141.2%)
- Democratic Republic Congo: $350 per ton (down -30%)
- Comoros: $380 per ton (down -29.4%)
- Zimbabwe: $394 per ton (down -59.3%)
- Malawi: $446 per ton (down -77.7%)
- Botswana: $660 per ton (up 167.2%)
- Tanzania: $727 per ton (up 34.9%)
The severest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for shelled peanuts from 2021 to 2025 were recorded by low-cost importers in Malawi (down -77.7%), Benin (down -69.5%), Ghana (down -64.8%), Zimbabwe (down -59.3%) then Mali (down -51.1%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported peanuts with their shells removed.
- French Polynesia: US$9,000 per ton (up 170% from 2021)
- Cuba: $6,000 per ton (up 33.3%)
- Gibraltar: $5,000 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Maldives: $4,319 per ton (up 12.2%)
- Samoa: $4,000 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Iceland: $3,689 per ton (up 13.4%)
- Namibia: $3,000 per ton (up 50%)
- Antigua/Barbuda: $3,000 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Cook Islands: $3,000 per ton (up 20%)
- Marshall Islands: $3,000 per ton (down -50%)
- Cayman Islands: $2,714 per ton (up 80.9%)
- Bonaire, St Eustatius, Saba: $2,571 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
- Fiji: $2,524 per ton (down -36.9%)
- Switzerland: $2,403 per ton (up 1.3%)
- Sao Tome/Principe: $2,250 per ton (2021 data unavailble)
The strongest increases in terms of higher average unit prices in 2025 compared to 2021 were paid by importers of shelled peanuts in French Polynesia (up 170%), Cayman Islands (up 80.9%), Namibia (up 50%), Cuba (up 33%) and Iceland (up 13.4%).
See also Top Almonds Exporters by Country, Top Chickpeas Exports & Imports by Country, Top Walnut Exporters by Country, Top Cardamoms Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Chestnuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Peanut Showroom. Accessed on June 3, 2026
SNACKEX, Conference Presentation Future Peanut Sourcing for Europe. Accessed on June 3, 2026
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 3, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 3, 2026
Wikipedia, Peanut. Accessed on June 3, 2026