Nuts, growing consumption and demand from bakeries and the food industry

Nuts are confirmed as one of the most dynamic sectors of the Italian agri-food industry, between territorial roots and a growing demand. At the Sigep in Rimini Ismea presented numbers and trends of the sector, in line with the vocation of the event: hazelnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, almonds and walnuts are key ingredients for ice cream and pastries made in Italy. According to data illustrated by Ismea, Italy is firmly in the world's Top 10 nut producers, with a production exceeding 280 thousand tons

Internationally, Italy is also the sixth largest importer and eleventh largest exporter of dried fruit globally: a position that reflects an articulated supply chain, from primary production to gastronomic processing and valorisation.

On the retail front, 2025 marks a new record: purchases of packaged nuts exceeded EUR 1.1 billion (+13% over 2024) and, in quantity, over 89 thousand tonnes (+6%). Nuts also account for around 6% of Italians' expenditure on fruit and vegetables.

In the last five years, Ismea again indicates, cultivated areas have increased by about 6 per cent. Driving the growth in demand is above all the processing industry, which uses walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds and chestnuts in traditional Italian confectionery products, creams and preparations, often also destined for foreign markets.

Fundamental to this growth is the support of Masaf, implemented by Ismea, for the promotion of Italian nuts, through media communication and territorial promotion initiatives at major Italian and international sporting events.