Walnut Production by Country 2024

Like many popular nuts, walnuts are both delicious and nutritious. They’re also quite versatile as an ingredient, which has helped the humble walnut find its way into multiple iconic world cuisines over the years.

However, walnuts have unique growing preferences and ideal conditions that can make them easier to grow in some countries than they are in others. Here’s a closer look at how walnut-producing countries compare to one another in 2023.

Top Walnut-Producing Countries of the World

The following are some of the world’s current top walnut producers as of 2023.

China

China’s vast size and diverse collection of growing environments make it a world leader when it comes to a variety of different crops, and walnuts are no exception. Certain regions are especially well-suited for the job, including Shaanxi and Hebei.

China currently produces around 1.4 million metric tons of walnuts each year. Its diverse climate situation also enables it to grow multiple types of walnuts.

Iran

Iran is home to many key walnut-producing regions, including but not limited to Kerman, Zanjan, and Markazi. It also features ideal growing conditions, ample irrigation resources, and plenty of government support – all of which combine to make Iran the second-biggest walnut producer in the world.

As of 2023, Iran contributes roughly 386,976 metric tons of walnuts to the global walnut industry.

Turkey

Turkish walnuts are world-famous for being exceptionally delicious and high in quality. This is likely due to the diverse climate conditions, rich soil, and abundant sunshine Turkey has to offer.

Currently, Turkish walnut growers collectively contribute about 325,000 metric tons of walnut to the ongoing world supply.

Other top walnut-producing countries include but are not limited to Chile, Mexico, Ukraine, Greece, Romania, France, Morocco, and Uzbekistan.

Factors Contributing to Countrywide Walnut Production

Geographic makeup and climate are perhaps the largest contributing factors affecting walnut production from one country to the next. However, there are others to consider, as well. Examples include:

• Government support: In countries where growers are incentivized to cultivate walnuts via government support like subsidies and ample research funding, the country on the whole is in a better position to be a top producer.
• Pollination: In most cases, walnut trees need to be cross-pollinated to thrive, so pollinators are crucial, giving countries or regions with more bees and other examples a competitive edge.
• Available tech: The better a country’s access to the latest growing techniques, technology, and supplies, the better the potential walnut yield is going to be.