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On April 1, 2025, Japan formally lifted the mandatory aflatoxin testing requirements on U.S. almonds compliant with the new almond export protocol.

On March 31, 2025, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) issued Decree 73/2025/ND-CP, reducing the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) import tariff rates on corn, soybean meal, ethanol, frozen chicken drumsticks, in-shell pistachios, almonds, fresh apples, cherries, and raisins. The decree takes effect immediately.

The United States holds 66 percent of Taiwan’s tree nut market, with 2024 imports rising 19 percent to nearly 13,000 metric tons, valued at USD 76 million.

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) intends to mandate allergy labeling on cashew nuts from the current recommended status. The CAA also intends to add pistachios to the recommended allergy labeling category.

In 2023, Hong Kong was the 17th-largest market for U.S. agricultural products globally. That same year, the United States exported $1.5 billion of agricultural products and was the third-largest supplier of consumer-oriented food products to Hong Kong after China and Australia.

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to rebound 11 percent to 1.5 MMT in MY 2024/25 supported by favorable growing conditions in major production areas. Improved world supplies and changing dietary concepts will likely drive nut imports to continue rising.

The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) published the draft "Standards for Nuts and Kernels of Almonds" for comment. The standards will replace the existing national standard on almond kernels (GB/T 30761-2014) and specify the quality...

Vietnam offers abundant opportunities for exporting consumer-oriented products, despite the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with high inflation. The Vietnamese economy is poised for significant expansion in the coming decades. With a burgeoning population and a growing middle class, Vietnamese consumers are becoming more discerning about the origin and composition of their food.

Thanks to consumers' growing preference for healthy food and earlier successful marketing of nuts and dried fruit products across the country, China's consumption and demand for nuts and dried fruit has exploded over the past few years.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to remain unchanged from the previous year at 1.4 MMT in MY 2023/24. Cold winter temperatures in Xinjiang damaged the almond crop this year.

The State Administration for Market Regulation issued the General Quality Standard for Nut and Seed Food, which will come into force on August 1, 2023.