China imported more than $700 million worth of macadamia nuts in 2023, and the US exceeded $400 million in the same year. Kenya exported 20,000+ metric tons of in-shell nuts in 2020/21 and Australia averaged about 30,000 metric tons during that season. Storage moisture above roughly 4% accelerates kernel oxidation, and EU aflatoxin B1 limits cap contamination at 4 µg/kg.
Key Takeaways
- Kenya exported 20,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in-shell in 2020/21 (marketing year)
- Madagascar exported 8,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in-shell in 2020 (calendar year reporting in trade statistics)
- Macadamia nut harvesting windows are typically 8–10 months in major producing regions (season length range reported by agricultural extension)
- China imported $700 million+ worth of macadamia nuts in 2023 (trade data, HS 080260)
- Germany imported 8,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in 2023 (trade data)
- The US macadamia nut import value exceeded $400 million in 2023 (trade data, HS 080260)
- The global macadamia nuts market was valued at about USD 1.2 billion in 2023 (market-sizing estimate)
- The global macadamia nuts market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 7% from 2024 to 2032 (forecast CAGR)
- The global macadamia nuts market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 8% through 2030 (forecast CAGR)
- The EU aflatoxin total limit in nuts is 4 µg/kg (regulation quantity)
- EU requires food business operators to traceability under General Food Law; there must be procedures to withdraw products (traceability requirement quantity: 1 set of traceability rules)
- Macadamia kernels oxidation risk increases sharply when moisture is above about 4% during storage (quality threshold from shelf-life studies)
- In macadamia kernels, lipid oxidation is strongly linked to water activity; studies report rapid oxidation above a water activity threshold around 0.7–0.8 (quality threshold)
- Macadamia processing yield: kernel recovery is typically ~25–35% by weight from in-shell nuts depending on cultivar and cracking efficiency (yield range reported in industry/technical papers)
- Macadamia nuts market share of unsalted formats in retail snacks is reported around 55% in a global snacking retail dataset (share figure)
Macadamia trade and demand surged in 2023, with strong import values and continued market growth.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production Volumes3 stats
01
Kenya exported 20,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in-shell in 2020/21 (marketing year)
02
Madagascar exported 8,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in-shell in 2020 (calendar year reporting in trade statistics)
03
Macadamia nut harvesting windows are typically 8–10 months in major producing regions (season length range reported by agricultural extension)
Interpretation
Production Volumes Interpretation
For the Production Volumes view, the data shows Kenya leading with 20,000+ metric tons of in-shell exports in 2020/21 and Madagascar following with 8,000+ metric tons in 2020, while the typical 8 to 10 month harvest window in major regions helps explain why production and export volumes are concentrated within a defined seasonal span.
02 · Category
Trade Flows9 stats
01
China imported $700 million+ worth of macadamia nuts in 2023 (trade data, HS 080260)
02
Germany imported 8,000+ metric tons of macadamia nuts in 2023 (trade data)
03
The US macadamia nut import value exceeded $400 million in 2023 (trade data, HS 080260)
04
Singapore imported about $90 million worth of macadamia nuts in 2023 (trade data, HS 080260)
05
In Brazil, imports for HS 080260 increased to over $10 million in 2023 (trade data)
06
In India, macadamia nut imports were over $5 million in 2023 (trade data)
07
In Japan, macadamia nut imports were over $50 million in 2023 (trade data)
08
In Canada, macadamia nut imports were over $25 million in 2023 (trade data)
09
Kenya exported macadamia nuts to China worth over $200 million in 2022 (trade data)
Interpretation
Trade Flows Interpretation
Trade flows in 2023 and 2022 show China and the United States as the dominant import destinations, with China taking in $700 million plus of macadamia nuts in 2023 while the US imported more than $400 million, underscoring how global demand is highly concentrated among major buyers.
03 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
The global macadamia nuts market was valued at about USD 1.2 billion in 2023 (market-sizing estimate)
02
The global macadamia nuts market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 7% from 2024 to 2032 (forecast CAGR)
03
The global macadamia nuts market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 8% through 2030 (forecast CAGR)
04
The macadamia nuts market size in 2023 is reported at USD 1.5–1.6 billion by some industry forecasters (market estimate range for 2023)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The macadamia nuts market was valued at about USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is forecast to expand steadily with CAGRs of roughly 7% from 2024 to 2032 or about 8% through 2030, indicating solid long term market size growth.
04 · Category
Regulatory & Compliance2 stats
01
The EU aflatoxin total limit in nuts is 4 µg/kg (regulation quantity)
02
EU requires food business operators to traceability under General Food Law; there must be procedures to withdraw products (traceability requirement quantity: 1 set of traceability rules)
Interpretation
Regulatory & Compliance Interpretation
For Regulatory and Compliance, the EU’s strict 4 µg/kg aflatoxin limit in nuts and its requirement for a traceability set of withdrawal procedures signal a clear push toward tighter safety controls and documented accountability.
05 · Category
Quality & Yield5 stats
01
Macadamia kernels oxidation risk increases sharply when moisture is above about 4% during storage (quality threshold from shelf-life studies)
02
In macadamia kernels, lipid oxidation is strongly linked to water activity; studies report rapid oxidation above a water activity threshold around 0.7–0.8 (quality threshold)
03
Macadamia processing yield: kernel recovery is typically ~25–35% by weight from in-shell nuts depending on cultivar and cracking efficiency (yield range reported in industry/technical papers)
04
Aflatoxin contamination risk is highest in nuts during drought and poor drying; extension guidance cites 'high risk' during prolonged field exposure and inadequate drying (risk condition)
05
Heat drying of macadamias reduces surface moisture and improves storability; studies report reductions in peroxide value during drying compared with ambient drying (oxidation metric improvement)
Interpretation
Quality & Yield Interpretation
For a strong Quality and Yield outcome, the key is controlling moisture because oxidation risk jumps when kernels are stored above about 4% moisture and water activity rises near 0.7 to 0.8, while better drying that lowers oxidation metrics helps protect kernel recovery that typically sits around 25 to 35% by weight from in shell nuts.
More related reading
06 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
Macadamia nuts market share of unsalted formats in retail snacks is reported around 55% in a global snacking retail dataset (share figure)
02
Macadamia nut imports into the EU increased year-over-year by ~X% in 2023 (trade data year-over-year growth)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Within industry trends for macadamias, unsalted formats hold about a 55% share of macadamia in global retail snacking, while EU imports climbed roughly X% year over year in 2023, signaling sustained consumer demand and growing regional momentum.
07 · Category
Production & Yield1 stats
01
In Australia, macadamia production averaged about 30,000 metric tons (in-shell) during the 2020/21 season, per state-level industry reporting consolidated in the referenced research article.
Interpretation
Production & Yield Interpretation
In Australia’s 2020/21 season, macadamia production averaged about 30,000 metric tons in-shell, underscoring a steady production baseline that supports the Production and Yield outlook at the state-reporting level.
08 · Category
Food Safety & Compliance4 stats
01
Aflatoxin limit for macadamia nuts and other tree nuts in the EU is 4 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) for aflatoxin B1 and 15 µg/kg total aflatoxins (context for regulated maximums in nuts).
02
The EU’s official sampling frequency for aflatoxins in nuts under the referenced control framework is at least 1 sample per lot (with frequency scaled by risk and lot size in implementing guidance).
03
EU food safety controls for chemical contaminants apply under Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 general food law framework requiring traceability for food and feed businesses (traceability obligation applies to all food business operators).
04
US HACCP applicability: processors handling nuts for human consumption must comply with FDA preventive controls rules under 21 CFR Part 117, which sets mandatory food safety plans for covered facilities (preventive controls quantified as ‘for covered facilities’ in rule text).
Interpretation
Food Safety & Compliance Interpretation
From a Food Safety & Compliance perspective, the EU’s aflatoxin limits are sharply defined at 4 µg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 15 µg/kg for total aflatoxins, with sampling conducted at least once per lot, while the regulatory focus is reinforced by EU-wide traceability requirements under Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and US HACCP preventive controls under 21 CFR Part 117 for covered facilities.
09 · Category
Processing & Quality3 stats
01
Kernel moisture conditioning below 3–4% is commonly targeted in commercial storage for nuts to control oxidation and mold risks (industry processing guidance in the referenced technical bulletin).
02
Shelf-life testing in the referenced study shows measurable peroxide value increases when kernels are stored under higher oxygen and moisture conditions, demonstrating quality degradation measurable by standard lipid oxidation assays.
03
Total bacterial counts on improperly dried kernels can exceed acceptable limits; the referenced extension/peer-reviewed work reports higher microbial loads after inadequate drying compared with properly dried samples.
Interpretation
Processing & Quality Interpretation
For Processing and Quality, targeting kernel moisture below about 3 to 4% is crucial because higher oxygen and moisture conditions accelerate peroxide value increases linked to lipid oxidation and improperly dried kernels can develop bacterial counts above acceptable limits.
10 · Category
Market Economics1 stats
01
In 2022, the top 5 importing countries for macadamia nuts accounted for roughly three-quarters of global import volume in the referenced trade competitiveness analysis.
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
In 2022, the top five importing countries together took up about three quarters of global macadamia nut import volume, highlighting how market economics is driven by a small group of major buyers.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Macadamia Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/macadamia-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Macadamia Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/macadamia-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Macadamia Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/macadamia-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)