Market research

Palm nuts and kernels market in Nicaragua

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for palm nuts and kernels in Nicaragua expanded consistently from 331 тыс. т in 2018 to 506 тыс. т in 2022, driven by rising domestic production which increased from 342 тыс. т to 520 тыс. т over the same period.

In 2023, the market contracted to 451 тыс. т as production fell to 460 тыс. т. This decline coincided with a 38.5% drop in palm oil exports, a key derivative, which reduced demand for raw nuts and kernels. During this period, the sector benefited from investments nearing $400 million in plantations and processing infrastructure, supporting long-term capacity growth.

By 2024, the industry focused on achieving self-sufficiency and diversifying into value-added products, with local palm oil consumption estimated at 70 000 tonnes annually and Mexico remaining the primary export destination.

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 Nicaragua
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nicaragua in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nicaragua 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, K 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, K 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nicaragua in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nicaragua in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nicaragua, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nicaragua in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nicaragua in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nicaragua, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nicaragua in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nicaragua in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nicaragua, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nicaragua in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nicaragua in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nicaragua by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nicaragua, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nicaragua 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 palm nuts and kernels in Nicaragua

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua consistently ranked 24th globally in terms of palm nuts and kernels production volume.

Top producers of palm nuts and kernels, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of palm nuts and kernels, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nicaragua's palm nuts and kernels production has grown for three consecutive years. In 2020, the country produced 480.0 K t, representing a significant 15.4% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 45.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 13.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Nicaragua in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.6%	21.6%	15.4%	13.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports palm nuts and kernels from Nicaragua

Exports in kind, t

Nicaragua's palm nuts and kernels exports have increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 14 387 t, up 9.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 68.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 19.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	25.5%	22.4%	9.6%	19.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the export market was highly concentrated, with Costa Rica accounting for 100.0% of Nicaragua's palm nuts and kernels exports in volume terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After declining for two years, Nicaragua's palm nuts and kernels exports rebounded in 2020, reaching 2 789 K $ US, a 33.9% increase from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 3.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 2 083 K $ US, which saw the largest decline of 20.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.8%)	(20.1%)	33.9%	(1.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value terms, the export structure from 2017 to 2020 was highly concentrated, with Costa Rica responsible for 100.0% of total exports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports palm nuts and kernels to Nicaragua

Imports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.2 t, while the highest volume was observed in 2017, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 12.5 times. In 2020, imports rose to 1 t, marking a sharp increase of 648.1% from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 86.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(39.1%)	(86.9%)	648.1%	(15.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Honduras (46.2% of imports in volume), Costa Rica (23.2%), and Colombia (17.0%) were the largest suppliers of palm nuts and kernels to Nicaragua, together comprising 86.4% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was volatile during this period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 0.2 K $ US, while peaking in 2017, with a 2 704-fold difference between these years. In 2020, imports surged to 209 K $ US, an extraordinary increase of 98 060.2% from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, dropping by 99.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(47.8%)	(99.9%)	98 060.2%	(28.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Honduras and Colombia dominated Nicaragua's palm nuts and kernels imports in value terms, with other countries making up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io