TheItaly confirms itself strategic hub of the nuts, with a national production that in 2024 exceeded 284,000 tons and a total consumption of 675,000 tons, driven by demand from the Italian confectionery industry. The ISMEA report presented at SIGEP 2026 outlines a healthy supply chain, where mastery in processing and an unbreakable link with the territory create unique added value. With a constant growth of cultivated areas and a sector record organic, Italian nuts establish themselves as the preferred ingredient for the flavor industry and as a pillar of the modern Mediterranean diet.
With a production By 284,310 tons in 2024, Italy ranks in the Top-10 of world nut producers, occupying sixth place among importing countries and eleventh position among global exporters. This position reflects not only the national production capacity but above all aprocessing, transformation and gastronomic enhancement activity deeply rooted in the territories where these productions are made.
The cultivated area has recorded a 6% growth in the last five years, reaching 200,935 hectares in 2024. However, climatic and phytosanitary issues have downsized supply and increased the share of imported products, highlighting the sector's vulnerability to environmental changes.
A mosaic of excellences: the strength of national production
The distribution of Italian production for 2024 highlights the predominance of hazelnuts, which represent 42% of total production (121,000 tons) and 48% of the cultivated area. Follow the almonds with 28% of production (79,000 tons) and 27% of the area, the chestnuts and marron with 23% of production (64,000 tons) and 20% of the area.
The walnuts constitute 6% of Italian production (16,000 tons) but only 3% of cultivated area, while the pistachios represent 1% of production (4,000 tons) and 2% of the area. This distribution reflects not only regional cultivation traditions but also the different yields per hectare of various species.
Investing in the future: cultivated areas grow
The five-year analysis reveals a 1.4% annual increase in cultivated area, rising from 190,005 hectares in 2020 to 200,935 hectares in 2024. However, the harvested production grew only by 0.8% annually, showing a slower pace than the area increase. This gap is explained by the reduction in average yield per hectare (-1.3% annually), which fell from 16.3 quintals per hectare in 2020 to 14.7 quintals in 2024.
The causes of this production decline are many: the climate crisis, with increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and the spread of insects and pathogens coming from other continents are putting pressure on production systems. In 2021, in particular, production hit a five-year low at 218,039 tons, a 25% decline compared to the previous year.
The primacy of organic: a choice of value
The organic production potential represents one of the most dynamic segments of the sector. The organic area dedicated to nuts grew by 5.9% per year between 2020 and 2024, reaching 66,787 hectares. The organic hazelnuts have recorded the highest growth with +8.6% per year (21,473 hectares in 2024), followed by almonds (+5.3% per year, 22,343 hectares) and by walnuts (+4.9% per year, 2,136 hectares).
Particularly significant is the expansion of organic pistachios and other nuts, with an annual growth rate of 31.2%, a sign of the growing demand for certified products and the development potential of high-quality production niches.
DOP and IGP: the identity that creates economy in the territory
As of 2024 they are 21 recognized Geographical Indications for Italian nuts, to which is added the PDO of Chestnut Honey from Lunigiana. The basket includes 2 PGIs and 1 PDO for hazelnuts, 11 PGIs and 3 PDOs for chestnuts and marrons, 2 PDO chestnut flours and 2 PDOs for pistachios.
The Piedmont Hazelnut PGI dominates with 1,543 tons in 2024 (58% of the total certified) and an origin turnover of 6.4 million euros (45% of the total). Followed by Bronte Green Pistachio PDO with 341 tons (13% of total) but a commercial value of 5.8 million euros (40% of total turnover), confirming the premium positioning of this iconic product.
Among certified chestnuts, the following stand out Serino Marron PGI (211 tons, +138% compared to 2023) and the Roccadaspide Marron PGI (112 tons, +675% compared to 2023), highlighting the strong production variability linked to annual climatic conditions.
The supply chain balance: production, imports and consumption
In 2024, Italy imported 476,000 tons of nuts (in shell equivalent), representing 63% of the total availability of 760 million kg. The national production By 284,000 tons covers 37% of availability, while the exports amount to 85,000 tons (11% of availability).
The total consumption reached 675,000 tons in 2024, with a growth of 7.5% compared to 2020. This increase is mainly driven by the needs of theItalian processing industry, which absorbs 55% of total consumption (421,000 t), while the retail represents 73% of direct consumption (254,000 t) and theHo.Re.Ca. the remaining 27% (69,000 t).
Self-sufficiency levels
The analysis by species reveals very different dynamics. The chestnuts and marron have a degree of self-sufficiency of 104%, making Italy a net exporter. The hazelnuts reach 55% of self-sufficiency, while the almonds stop at 41%. Particularly critical is the situation of walnuts (20% self-sufficiency) and pistachios (12%), which heavily depend on imports.
This dependence on foreign countries is explained by the significant demand from theItalian confectionery and food industry, which uses nuts as a fundamental ingredient for products exported worldwide: nougats, pralines, ice creams, panettones, Easter doves, and savory snacks.
Consumption map: industry vs retail
The analysis of end-use highlights how hazelnuts (95% industry share) and almonds (85% industry share) are almost exclusively destined for industrial processing, confirming their strategic role in Italian pastry and confectionery. The chestnuts have a more balanced distribution (40% industry, 60% retail), while pistachios (30% industry) and walnuts (10% industry) are predominantly purchased for direct consumption.
This positioning reflects different usage traditions: hazelnuts and almonds represent the basis of large-scale Italian industrial pastry, while pistachios and walnuts maintain a strong connection with direct consumption and use in small artisanal productions.
New trends: nuts as protagonist of the daily diet
In 2025, purchases of packaged nuts exceeded 1.1 billion euros (+13% compared to 2024) for a total of over 89,000 tons (+6% compared to 2024). Nuts represent 6% of Italians' spending on fruit and vegetable products, confirming its significant role in the national diet.
The shelled almonds dominate with 22% of spending and 19% of volumes purchased, followed by shelled mix (15% of spending, 12% of volumes) and by shelled walnuts (13% of spending, 10% of volumes). The in-shell pistachios represent 10% of spending but only 7% of volumes, highlighting a premium positioning.
Deseasonalization of consumption
Thanks to the growing awareness of the nutritional virtues of nuts with shells, the consumption of almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, and chestnuts – which in the past was almost exclusively limited to holidays and celebrations – has seasonally adjustedThe purchasing trends in 2025 highlight a clear preference for shelled references compared to shelled ones, with the shelled mix growing by 13% in quantity and shelled almonds by 7%, with purchasing profiles well distributed throughout the year.
Sales boom also for shelled chestnuts and steam-cooked (+25% in quantity), which are gaining new market spaces thanks to ease of use. Consumption of seasonal references such as fresh chestnuts (-4% in quantity) and peanuts in shell (-2% in quantity) instead show a slight contraction, while maintaining consumption peaks concentrated in the October-December period.
The future prospects
The future of Italian nuts appears solid, driven by an increasingly aware consumer who chooses DOP and IGP certified quality and national origin. The sector's ability to evolve towards high service content references and the drive towards biological sustainability are the engines of growth that know no stops. Investing in traceability and in the enhancement of biodiversity local remains the key to consolidating Italian leadership in haute cuisine and daily well-being.
Marta Strinati
References
- ISMEA (Institute of Services for the Agricultural and Food Market). SIGEP 2026 presentation, January 16, 2026. Elaborations on data from Istat, Nielsen IQ, Sinab. https://www.ismea.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/13543
Professional journalist since January 1995, worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and magazines (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). Author of investigative reports on food, published the book 'Reading labels to know what we eat'.
