The Nut Market

Over the past few years, there have been changes in the consumption pattern of nuts amongst people globally. Some of the positive effects of nuts on the human body are reduced chances of heart diseases, prevention of diabetes, reduced blood cholesterol, and others. As nuts consist of nutrients such as proteins, fiber, folate, and several essential minerals, they are consumed on a large scale across all regions. They are considered as superfood because they have anti-inflammatory qualities. They are also high in antioxidants which can fight oxidative stress and possibly reduce cancer risk. Nuts are exceedingly versatile in product formulation, therefore they are considered a preferred choice for food manufacturers and also for consumers as they provide both taste and impart health benefits. Every year, manufacturers are introducing new products with almonds surpassing other kinds of food that contain nuts such as cashews and walnuts. Global almond production for 2016/17 is forecast 7 percent higher to 1.17 million metric tons shelled basis on record production in the United States and to a lesser extent, China, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Global exports are expected to rise 10 percent to a record 717,000 tons on strong U.S. shipments to the European Union, China, and India. In addition, global walnut production and trade are forecast at a record 2.1 million tons in-shell basis, with China and the United States accounting for nearly 80 percent of total output. World exports, dominated by the United States, are expected up 6 percent to 715,000 tons. The food categories wherein nuts are included are snacks & bars, bakery products, confectioneries, beverages, cereals, desserts, and dairy products and other applications (salads & sauces). The European and North American regions are the largest and most mature regions for the nut ingredients market, according to MarketsAndMarkets. The European region is the largest market for nut ingredients in terms of value, while North America is the second largest, followed by Asia-Pacific. APAC has witnessed the fastest growth in emerging countries such as China and India. Factors fuelling the growth in Asia-Pacific are demand for premium foods positioned as healthy, which are becoming popular with all generations. Further, the explosive growth of middle-class population, rapid urbanization, increased spending power, increase in the number of working women have all spurred demand for nut-based food & beverage products in these regions. In the food category, snacks & bars are leading due to health and wellness trends. Consumers globally are looking for healthier and nutritious options that are free of pesticides, chemicals, and GMOs. The organic and natural snacks food category is a growing category in supermarkets around the world. The market is projected to grow at a substantial rate in the next five years. Blue Diamond Growers Inc, Diamond Foods Inc, Archer Daniels Midland Company, and Cargill Incorporated are some of the major players operating in the global nuts market.