Market research

In-shell walnuts market in South Korea

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The in-shell walnut market in South Korea saw its consumption volume rise from 1,596 t in 2018 to a peak of 1,638 t in 2021. This growth was largely driven by increased imports, which responded to targeted marketing and export promotion activities by the California Walnut Commission. At the same time, rising domestic consumer interest in healthy functional foods bolstered demand for walnuts, with in-shell varieties preferred for their longer storage potential.

Domestic walnut production remained stable, ranging between 1,125 t and 1,177 t annually, with cultivation concentrated in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region. Korean growers implemented precision irrigation, harvest automation, and blockchain traceability to improve efficiency and counter climate-related risks. Public-sector incentives for production risk reduction and strengthened agricultural insurance programs further supported farm operations.

Following the 2021 peak, market volume moderated to 1,552 t by 2023, reflecting a period of stabilization. The California Walnut Commission maintained its direct influence on the market through ongoing promotional campaigns. Concurrently, evolving food labeling and packaging regulations began to affect product distribution, while global supply chain uncertainties and raw material price volatility emerged as relevant market background.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in South Korea
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production in-shell walnuts in South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of in-shell walnuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of in-shell walnuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

South Korea's in-shell walnut production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 1 125 tons of in-shell walnuts, which is 2.8% lower than in 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 6.1%, representing an average annual decrease of 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.7%)	(1.7%)	(2.8%)	(2.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in-shell walnuts from South Korea

According to desk-based market research, South Korea did not export any in-shell walnuts between 2017 and 2020.

Imports in-shell walnuts to South Korea

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, South Korea's imports of foreign in-shell walnuts increased in 2020. Imports reached 382.0 tons that year, showing a significant year-on-year rise of 24.8%. However, over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 24.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.0%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 306.1 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 26.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(17.4%)	(26.8%)	24.8%	(9.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the primary and nearly exclusive source for South Korea's in-shell walnut imports, accounting for 100.0% of the total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 991 thousand US dollars, which marked a 49.2% decline from the previous year. In 2020, imported in-shell walnut volumes in South Korea amounted to 1 690 thousand US dollars, reflecting a substantial uptick of 70.6% compared to 2019. Overall, from the peak in 2017 to the trough in 2019, imports changed by a factor of 2.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	(49.2%)	70.6%	(4.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the geographical distribution of imports in value terms showed a strong reliance on the United States, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io