1.1. General Considerations

Although much of the information gathered in this course is time-sensitive and by the time the student goes through it there might have been further developments to the market status here described, the main goal is to learn, though these examples, about the nut and dried fruit market dynamics.

This course presents a global analysis of the tree nut, peanut and dried fruit current and forecasted supply volumes and status, for both the current and the incoming season.

Based on the information shared and discussed by 12 panels of industry experts, in the frame of the latest INC World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress (held in Dubai, on May 11-13, 2022), the most significant nut and dried fruit market trends and challenges ahead are analyzed at an international level. Both the recordings of the Round Table discussions and the production statistics tables are available within this course.

The production statistics include the estimations for the 2021/2022 season and the early forecasts for the 2022/23 season. Some of the crop estimates and forecasts are based on the INC Dubai Congress roundtables; others have been updated since the Congress. As an agricultural commodity, the actual nut and dried fruit crop/production might vary from slightly to substantially from original projections as the growing season progresses, harvest is completed and receipts consolidated across the marketing year. The final output will be influenced by factors such as weather, soil conditions, pests, illnesses, weed infestations and market disruptions, all of which can have a distinct impact on each season’s number and, as a result, on the market.

The nuts and dried fruits covered throughout this course are almonds, Amazonia (Brazil) nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, dates, dried apricots, dried cranberries, dried figs, prunes and dried grapes (raisins, sultanas and currants).

Finally, in order to contextualize and to critically read the supply and market analysis statistics as a whole, the last 10 years historical price trends are featured for two major tree nuts (almonds and pistachios) and the world top producer, California.