While America harvested a staggering 268 million pounds of pecans last year, a closer look reveals a dynamic, high-stakes industry where Georgia dominates production, New Mexico sets the yield standard, and Mexico supplies three-quarters of the world’s entire crop.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States produced 268 million pounds of pecans on 152,000 acres with an average yield of 1,763 pounds per acre
- Georgia led U.S. pecan production in 2022 with 133 million pounds from 84,000 acres at 1,580 pounds per acre yield
- Texas produced 68 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 41,000 acres with a yield of 1,659 pounds per acre
- U.S. per capita pecan consumption reached 0.9 pounds in 2022, up 5% from 2021
- Total U.S. pecan disappearance (supply minus exports) was 200 million pounds in 2022/23
- Retail pecan sales in U.S. grew 8% to $1.2 billion in 2022
- U.S. pecan industry generated $4.5 billion economic impact in 2022 including indirect jobs
- Pecan farming supports 22,000 direct jobs across 15 states
- Total U.S. pecan value chain employs 65,000 workers
- U.S. pecan exports to China valued at $150 million in 2022
- Mexico imported 25 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
- Vietnam was top export market with 35 million pounds in 2022/23
- U.S. pecan prices averaged $2.85/lb for improved in-shell 2022/23
- Native pecans wholesale $1.20/lb in-shell early 2023 season
- Shelled pecan prices peaked at $4.50/lb for halves in Dec 2022
Georgia leads a robust U.S. pecan industry that produces hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
Consumption
- U.S. per capita pecan consumption reached 0.9 pounds in 2022, up 5% from 2021
- Total U.S. pecan disappearance (supply minus exports) was 200 million pounds in 2022/23
- Retail pecan sales in U.S. grew 8% to $1.2 billion in 2022
- 65% of U.S. consumers purchase pecans during holiday seasons
- Pecans rank as the #1 nut in U.S. snacking per capita at 1.1 ounces monthly
- U.S. household penetration for pecans is 45%, higher in South at 60%
- Baking uses 40% of domestic pecan consumption, followed by snacking at 30%
- Online pecan sales surged 25% in 2022 to $250 million
- 72% of millennials prefer pecans in trail mixes and snacks
- U.S. confectionery sector uses 15 million pounds of pecans annually
- Ice cream manufacturers incorporate 5 million pounds of pecans yearly
- Pecan consumption in salads grew 12% YoY in foodservice 2022
- Gen Z consumption of flavored pecans up 18% in 2023 surveys
- 55% of U.S. pecans consumed shelled, 45% in-shell
- Health-conscious consumers drive 30% rise in raw pecan purchases 2018-2022
- Pecans in breakfast foods consumed by 25% of U.S. households weekly
- Corporate gifting accounts for 10% of pecan retail volume
- Vegan market boosts pecan butter sales by 20% annually
- U.S. pecan nut butter market size $150 million in 2022
- Candy and chocolate segment uses 25% of shelled pecans
- Hotel and restaurant pecan use up 10% post-pandemic
- Organic pecan consumption doubled to 10 million pounds since 2018
- Pecans in protein bars: 8 million pounds annually
- Southern U.S. per capita consumption 1.5 pounds vs national 0.9
- Export-driven supply leaves 60% for domestic use
- Pecan pie remains top use, 35% of holiday baking
Consumption Interpretation
Americans are clearly going nuts for pecans, with everyone from millennials snacking on them to health-conscious Gen Zers flavoring their salads, proving that this humble nut has cracked the code on everything from holiday pies to year-round protein bars.
Economic Impact
- U.S. pecan industry generated $4.5 billion economic impact in 2022 including indirect jobs
- Pecan farming supports 22,000 direct jobs across 15 states
- Total U.S. pecan value chain employs 65,000 workers
- Georgia pecan industry contributes $1.2 billion to state GDP annually
- Texas pecan revenue at farm gate $300 million in 2022
- Processing and shelling adds $1 billion value to raw pecans yearly
- Pecan exports generated $500 million in foreign exchange for U.S. in 2022
- Retail markup on pecans averages 150%, boosting wholesale value
- 1,200 pecan growers operate commercially in the U.S.
- Average pecan farm size 125 acres, with revenue $5,000 per acre
- Shelling plants: 150 facilities process 80% of U.S. crop
- R&D investment in pecans $10 million annually via checkoff
- Tourism from pecan trails generates $50 million yearly
- Insurance payouts for pecan crop losses averaged $20 million/year 2018-2022
- Pecan-related ag tourism visits 2 million annually
- Multiplier effect: $2.50 economic output per $1 pecan sales
- New Mexico pecan industry $150 million direct output
- Labor costs 25% of pecan production expenses
- Equipment and inputs cost growers $1,200 per acre annually
- Wholesale value of shelled pecans $2.5 billion in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
While $4.5 billion grows on trees, it's the 65,000 livelihoods rooted in the humble pecan that prove this industry is a mighty oak of economic stability.
Exports
- U.S. pecan exports to China valued at $150 million in 2022
- Mexico imported 25 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
- Vietnam was top export market with 35 million pounds in 2022/23
- U.S. pecan exports totaled 138 million pounds in 2022, 52% of production
- India imported 20 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022, up 15%
- EU countries took 15 million pounds, led by Netherlands at 8 million
- Canada received 12 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
- UAE exports destination for 10 million pounds annually
- Export value per pound averaged $3.50 for shelled pecans in 2022
- Shelled pecans 85% of export volume, in-shell 15%
- China market share of U.S. exports dropped to 10% in 2022 from 30%
- New markets like South Korea imported 5 million pounds in 2022
- Logistics costs rose 20% for pecan exports in 2022 due to shipping
- U.S. pecan import from Mexico: 50 million pounds in 2022
- Phytosanitary compliance enables 90% approval rate for exports
- Container shipments of pecans: 20,000 TEUs annually
- Duty-free access via USMCA boosted Mexico exports by 10%
- Asia-Pacific region 60% of U.S. pecan export volume
- Average export growth 5% CAGR 2018-2022
- U.S. imports 20% of global supply mainly from Mexico
- Brazil emerging as exporter with 1,000 tons to U.S. in 2023
- Digital traceability covers 70% of exported pecans
Exports Interpretation
Despite its noble pursuit of global nut domination, the U.S. pecan industry finds itself in a complex shell game—paying top dollar to import Mexican pecans while deftly juggling its own exports to everywhere from Vietnam to the UAE, all while navigating China's retreat and a web of logistics, tariffs, and digital paperwork.
Prices
- U.S. pecan prices averaged $2.85/lb for improved in-shell 2022/23
- Native pecans wholesale $1.20/lb in-shell early 2023 season
- Shelled pecan prices peaked at $4.50/lb for halves in Dec 2022
- Georgia jumbo in-shell quoted at $3.20/lb mid-2023
- Export parity prices drove domestic up 15% in 2022
- Organic shelled pecans $6.50/lb wholesale 2023
- Retail pecan price inflation 12% in 2022 vs food CPI 8%
- Texas Ortiz variety $3.80/lb in-shell 2023 average
- MPCI-insured pecan price election $1.90/lb for 2023 crop
- Futures market for pecans launched with $3.00/lb benchmark
- Yield-price inverse: high yields dropped prices 20% in 2021
- China demand pushed junior mammoth to $4.10/lb shelled
- Farm gate price Georgia $0.85/lb nutmeat equivalent 2022
- Retail holiday pecan pie mix $8.50/lb, up 10%
- Input cost inflation added $0.50/lb to breakeven prices
- Shelled pecan spread $3.80-$5.20/lb by size grade 2023
- In-shell price volatility +/-25% seasonal swing
- Breakeven yield-adjusted price $1.10/lb in-shell Texas
- Premium varieties 20% price premium over standard
- Drought reduced supply, lifting prices 30% in NM 2022
- Wholesale club packs $4.99/lb shelled average
- U.S. pecan acreage expansion slowed to 1% in 2023 amid high prices
Prices Interpretation
It seems the pecan market has decided that everything from a Georgia jumbo to a Texas Ortiz is now worth its weight in gold, or at least a very expensive pie filling, as prices soared on everything from Chinese demand to drought while farmers desperately tried to keep up with a breakeven point that was always one step ahead.
Production
- In 2022, the United States produced 268 million pounds of pecans on 152,000 acres with an average yield of 1,763 pounds per acre
- Georgia led U.S. pecan production in 2022 with 133 million pounds from 84,000 acres at 1,580 pounds per acre yield
- Texas produced 68 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 41,000 acres with a yield of 1,659 pounds per acre
- New Mexico's pecan production reached 40 million pounds in 2022 from 15,500 acres yielding 2,581 pounds per acre
- Arizona contributed 15 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 5,800 acres with 2,586 pounds per acre
- Global pecan production in 2022/23 was estimated at 678,000 metric tons, led by the U.S. with 120,000 metric tons
- Mexico produced 510,000 metric tons of pecans in 2022/23, accounting for 75% of world production
- China's pecan production grew to 24,000 metric tons in 2022/23 due to expanded orchards
- South Africa's pecan output was 22,000 metric tons in 2022/23 from 25,000 hectares
- Australia's pecan production hit 7,200 metric tons in 2022/23, up 10% from prior year
- U.S. pecan bearing acres increased to 152,000 in 2022 from 145,000 in 2021
- Pecan nutmeat yield averaged 52% in U.S. processing facilities in 2022
- Improved varieties accounted for 60% of U.S. pecan production in 2022
- Organic pecan production in the U.S. reached 5 million pounds in 2022
- Georgia's pecan orchards span 140,000 total acres including non-bearing
- Texas pecan industry supports 10,000 direct jobs in production
- New Mexico's pecan valley produces 90% of state's output on irrigated lands
- U.S. pecan seedling trees still comprise 40% of bearing acreage
- World pecan tree plantings expanded by 15% from 2018-2023
- Brazil's emerging pecan production reached 1,500 metric tons in 2023
- U.S. pecan crop value at farm gate was $623 million in 2022
- Average U.S. pecan orchard age is 25 years with many over 50
- Irrigation covers 85% of U.S. pecan acreage, critical for yields
- Pecan production in Oklahoma totaled 8 million pounds in 2022
- Florida's small pecan output was 1.2 million pounds in 2022
- California produced 2.5 million pounds of pecans in 2022
- Louisiana pecan production: 0.5 million pounds in 2022
- North Carolina: 0.3 million pounds pecans in 2022
- Missouri pecan output: 0.2 million pounds in 2022
- U.S. non-bearing pecan acres: 28,000 in 2022
Production Interpretation
America may have invented the pecan pie, but it's clear Mexico now owns the orchard, producing three-quarters of the world's supply while states like Georgia and Texas chase higher yields through irrigation and improved varieties.
Trends
- Global pecan acreage forecast 500,000 ha by 2025
- Climate resilient varieties in 30% new plantings since 2020
- Mechanized harvest now 95% of U.S. operations
- Precision ag adoption 40% in pecan orchards 2023
- Water use efficiency improved 25% via deficit irrigation
- Export diversification to 80 countries from 50 in 2010
- Organic certification up 15% YoY in U.S. pecans
- Plant-based pecan milk market $100M by 2025 projection
- Scab disease resistance bred into 20 new cultivars
- Drone scouting covers 70% large orchards >500 acres
- Sustainability certifications held by 50% exporters
- Pecan shell biochar production up 200% for carbon credits
- AI yield prediction accuracy 90% in trials 2023
- Female growers 15% of U.S. pecan operations 2023 survey
- E-commerce direct-to-consumer 20% sales growth
- Zinc nanofertilizers boost yields 18% in trials
- Pecan wood demand for smoking up 30%
- Regenerative ag practices on 10% acreage for soil health
- Frozen pecan storage tech extends shelf life 50%
- Youth involvement programs train 5,000 annually
- Hemp intercropping trials yield +10% pecans
- Blockchain tracking from farm to fork 60% volume
Trends Interpretation
The global pecan industry is sprinting toward a sustainable, high-tech future, cultivating not just 500,000 hectares of climate-resilient, efficiently harvested nuts, but also fostering export diversity, youthful engagement, and surprising innovations—from pecan milk to biochar—all while using drones, AI, and blockchain to ensure that this beloved native crop continues to thrive.
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