The World’s Pistachio Producers and Where Iran Fits

Pistachios are a truly global trade, yet production is concentrated in very few places. Understanding who grows what, and why supply moves from year to year, helps buyers plan purchases and read price changes.

The big three

World production now runs at roughly 1.1 to 1.2 million tonnes a year (in-shell basis), and almost all of it comes from three countries:

• United States: the largest producer by a wide margin, with almost all of its orchards in California and large new plantings every year.
• Iran: the historic home of the crop, known for its variety range and flavour.
• Türkiye: a fast-growing producer with a large home market.

Together they account for well over 90% of global production. Smaller volumes come from Syria, the European Union (mainly Italy, Spain and Greece) and others.

Second place changes hands

Iran and Türkiye trade places behind the United States from one season to the next. Türkiye’s record crop in 2024/25 put it clearly ahead; a year later, frost, drought and an off-year cut Turkish output by around two thirds, and Iran moved back into second place.

Iran grows for export

The bigger difference is where the nuts go. Türkiye eats most of what it grows, while Iran ships the large majority of its crop abroad, around 175,000 tonnes forecast for 2025/26. That makes Iran the world’s second-largest pistachio exporter after the United States, and a supplier that buyers in Asia, the Middle East and Europe rely on year after year.

Iran’s pistachio regions

Iran has around 175,000 hectares of bearing pistachio orchards, and roughly half of them are in Kerman province, centred on Rafsanjan. Other important regions include Khorasan, Yazd and Semnan. Newer plantings are spreading to northern provinces with better access to water. In recent seasons Iranian output has ranged from about 105,000 to 225,000 tonnes, with heat, drought and water supply as the main swing factors.

Why supply swings: alternate bearing

Pistachio trees naturally alternate between heavy and light crops from one year to the next. Weather events such as spring frost or summer heat can amplify the swing. An “on” year can bring plentiful supply and softer prices, while an “off” year tightens the market. Trees also take time to mature: they produce little before about six years and reach full yield at 15 to 20 years, so new orchards take a long time to change the picture.

Where pistachios are sold

• Europe is the largest import region, led by Germany, Italy, Spain and France, with steady growth in demand.
• Asia and the Middle East are major markets for Iranian nuts, including China, India, the UAE, Iraq and Türkiye.
• Russia and Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, are long-standing buyers of Iranian pistachios.

Demand keeps growing

Pistachio has become one of the most fashionable flavours in food, from pastry and gelato to coffee drinks and chocolate. Combined with growing snack consumption, this keeps global demand rising, even as production expands.

What it means for buyers

• Plan around the harvest. New-crop supply arrives in autumn; contracting early gives more choice.
• Watch the crop reports. On- and off-years move prices.
• Diversify origin. Iranian varieties such as Akbari are hard to source anywhere else.

Learn why buyers choose Iranian pistachios, or contact us to discuss your volumes for the coming season.