The export of Iranian walnut and walnut kernels grew by 20 percent in terms of weight and by 44 percent in terms of export value in 2022 compared to 2021. Iraq was the main destination for Iranian walnut and walnut kernels in 2022.
According to the Iran customs statistics, 571,292 kilograms of Iranian walnut and walnut kernels worth 4,171,063 USD (7.30 USD per kilogram) were exported in 2022. Iraq is the most important destination for Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels. Most of the exports of this Iranian product were to this country in 2022.
Of the total export of Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels, 299,772 kg worth 1,466,746 USD were related to the export of in-shell walnuts. 52.5 percent by weight and 35.2 percent of the total export value of these crops in 2022 are related to the export of in-shell walnuts. The average price of in-shell walnuts for export in 2022 was 4.89 USD per kilogram. 271,520 kg of Iranian walnut kernels worth 2,704,317 USD were exported in 2022. The average price of Iranian walnut kernels was 9.96 USD per kilogram in 2022.
The export of Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels increased in 2022 compared to the previous year. 474,350 kilograms of this product worth 2,904,442 kilograms (6.12 USD per kilogram) were exported from Iran in 2021. The number of exports rose by 20 percent in terms of weight and by 44 percent in terms of export value in 2022 compared to 2021. The significant factor in increasing the demand and the export of Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels in 2022 is the increase in market inventory, which was caused by the rise in the production of this product, as well as the growth in the quality of the available product compared to 2021.
Rise in the export share of walnut kernels
The average price of Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels for export has risen by about 20 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. It has reached 7.30 USD from 6.12 USD. The most important reason for this price increase is the rise in the export share of walnut kernels, which have a higher price than in-shell walnuts.
In 2021, the export of walnut kernels had a share of 26.5 percent by weight and 42.3 percent of the export value of the total export of walnuts and walnut kernels. However, the export share of walnut kernels has gone up by more than 21 percent in 2022. 47.5 percent by weight and 64.8 percent of the total export value of walnuts and walnut kernels exported by Iran were related to the export of walnut kernels. Also, the increase in demand compared to last year caused an increase in the price of each kilogram of Iranian walnut kernels for export.
The price of Iranian walnuts and walnut kernels for export has dropped compared to last month and the beginning of the new year. The cost of walnuts and walnut kernels has declined by about 3.5 to 6.5 percent in the world markets due to the increase of about 17 percent in the exchange rate of the Dollar against the Rial, despite the rise in the price in the domestic market of Iran due to the increase in demand over the past month.
| Product | Price (USD/kg) | Price (EURO/kg) |
| Walnut Premium Grade | 11.57 | 10.78 |
| Walnut Grade A | 9.31 | 8.67 |
| Walnut Grade B | 6.91 | 6.44 |
| Walnut Kernel Premium Grade | 4.52 | 4.21 |
| Walnut Kernel Grade A | 4.12 | 3.84 |
| Walnut Kernel Grade B | 3.86 | 3.59 |