Coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews market in GCC

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in the GCC showed significant swings between 2018 and 2023. It surged to 145.6 thousand tons in 2019, dropped sharply to 100.4 thousand tons in 2020, and then entered a steady recovery phase, reaching 137.5 thousand tons by 2023. Domestic production remained stable at around 6.7 thousand tons annually, making imports the primary driver of market volume changes.

In monetary terms, the market's value followed a different path, declining from $298.0 million in 2018 to $226.9 million in 2020 before climbing back to $291.5 million in 2023. The divergence between volume and value trends points to underlying shifts in import prices or product mix during these years.

Import volumes continued to rise into 2024, reaching 201.7 thousand tons. This sustained growth coincided with influential global consumer trends, including heightened awareness of the health benefits of nuts, a shift towards vegan and plant-based diets, and growing demand for convenient and flavored snack products.

Production coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews in GCC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

World map of production of coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews, 2017-2020

In 2019, GCC produced 6 709 tonnes of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews, marking the highest output in the period. This represented a 1.0% increase from the previous year. In 2020, production remained nearly stable at 6 709 tonnes, showing only minor fluctuations compared to 2019. The lowest point was in 2018, with a 0.0% change.

Annual dynamics of production in GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

GCC's production value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews declined for the second year in a row in 2020, reaching 40 417 thousand US dollars, a 20.8% drop from 2019. The peak was in 2018 at 55 622 thousand US dollars, which saw a 22.0% increase. Over the 2017–2020 period, production value fell by 11.4%, averaging an annual decrease of 3.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in GCC in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews from GCC

Exports in kind, K t

GCC's export volume of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews rose for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 22.4 thousand tonnes, a notable 20.0% year-on-year increase. The lowest volume was in 2018 at 17.4 thousand tonnes, which experienced a 19.6% decline. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 3.4%, with an average annual rate of 1.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen were the top buyers of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews from GCC in volume terms. Iran accounted for 32.5% of exports, Iraq for 9.9%, and Yemen for 7.8%, together making up 50.2% of total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

GCC's export value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews fell for the third straight year in 2020, totaling 98.4 million US dollars, a 16.6% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 span, export value dropped by 27.8%, equating to an average annual decline of 10.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq were the leading partners for GCC's exports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in value terms. Iran held 49.2% of export value, Afghanistan 7.9%, and Iraq 7.4%, collectively representing 64.4% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020

Imports coconuts, Brazil nuts and cashews to GCC

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, GCC's import volume of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews was 116.1 thousand tonnes, a 26.3% decrease from the previous year. The highest volume was in 2019 at 157.5 thousand tonnes, which saw a 42.2% increase. The lowest was in 2018 at 110.8 thousand tonnes.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During 2017–2020, India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam were the primary sources for GCC's imports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in volume terms. India contributed 64.1% of imports, Sri Lanka 11.6%, and Vietnam 8.7%, together accounting for 84.4% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

GCC's import value of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews declined for the second year in a row in 2020, reaching 284.9 million US dollars, a 10.2% fall from 2019. The peak was in 2018 at 367.3 million US dollars, which experienced a 1.4% increase. In 2019, there was a 13.6% decline. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, import value decreased by 21.4%, averaging an annual drop of 7.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, India was the dominant source for GCC's imports of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews in value terms, accounting for 72.4% of total import value. Other destinations played a much smaller role in comparison.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020