Pine Nuts Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Italy paid the most for pine nuts in Q2 2026: USD 46.80/KG, up 3.5% from USD 45.20 in Q1.

Pine nuts are the edible seeds harvested from several pine species, sold in-shell or as shelled kernels for culinary use, most prominently in Mediterranean and East Asian cuisines. Different species yield distinctly different kernel sizes and prices, which keeps this a genuinely fragmented global market.

China, Pakistan, and Russia supply the larger, more affordable Asian pine nut varieties in significant volume, while Italy's stone pine, source of the classic pignoli used in pesto, commands a dramatic premium given its far smaller harvest and more labour-intensive extraction process.

Because pine nuts come from wild or semi-wild forest stands rather than cultivated orchards in most producing regions, annual harvest volumes can swing significantly based on that season's cone yield, adding a layer of supply unpredictability uncommon among cultivated tree nuts.

Extraction labour costs vary enormously by species and region: mechanized processing of the smaller Asian pine nut varieties is far cheaper than the largely hand-cracked extraction that Mediterranean stone pine still requires, which is the single biggest reason for the price gap between regions.

Adulteration and substitution risk, including passing off cheaper pine nut species as premium Mediterranean stone pine, has periodically drawn regulatory and trade-body attention, adding a quality-verification cost that premium buyers increasingly factor into sourcing decisions.

Italy ran roughly 195% above Pakistan, the least expensive of the group, in Q2 2026. Sourcing teams comparing origins should treat that gap as a starting point, not the full picture, since freight and duty costs still need adding on top.

Pine Nuts Price Forecast for 2026

Expect steady gains across all four markets through H2 2026 as culinary demand continues its gradual growth. Pakistan should retain its position as the most competitively priced origin given its lower extraction costs. Italy's dramatic premium should persist given its structurally limited stone pine harvest and labour-intensive processing. Forest management and wildfire risk in the main producing regions are worth monitoring, since pine nuts come overwhelmingly from wild or semi-wild stands rather than managed plantations that could otherwise buffer a bad season.

The 4-region average rose 4.0% between the first and second quarters of 2026. We see little reason for that trend to reverse through H2, barring a genuine shift in the factors driving it.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Pine Nuts Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 20.65/KG
• Pakistan: USD 15.85/KG
• Russia: USD 18.60/KG
• Italy: USD 46.80/KG

Pine Nuts Prices in China

USD 20.65/KG. That is where China landed in Q2 2026, up 4.3% from USD 19.80/KG in Q1 2026, placing it the 2nd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q2 2026 in China?

A normal harvest season met steady export and domestic demand, supporting a modest increase, leaving China running roughly 18.9% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is faster than the 2.2% average quarterly move China has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Pine Nuts Prices in Pakistan

Pakistan's price gained 5.0% to USD 15.85/KG, consistent export volumes to Chinese and Middle Eastern buyers kept Pakistani pricing the most competitive of the four markets even as it rose in step with the group, putting it the most affordable of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q2 2026 in Pakistan?

Consistent export volumes to Chinese and Middle Eastern buyers kept Pakistani pricing the most competitive of the four markets even as it rose in step with the group, with Pakistan now sitting about 37.8% below the 4-region average this quarter.

Pakistan has averaged 2.2% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in faster than that longer-run pace.

Pine Nuts Prices in Russia

In Q2 2026, Russia priced at USD 18.60/KG, up 3.9% from USD 17.90/KG the previous quarter, making it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q2 2026 in Russia?

Firm export demand into European and Asian markets supported a steady quarter, which puts Russia roughly 27.0% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 2.1% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Russia's move this quarter landed faster than that trend.

Pine Nuts Prices in Italy

Italy reached USD 46.80/KG in Q2 2026, structurally limited stone pine harvest volumes kept Italy's premium intact, ranking it the priciest among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q2 2026 in Italy?

Structurally limited stone pine harvest volumes kept Italy's premium intact, and demand from pesto and confectionery producers stayed firm, working out to Italy trading about 83.7% above this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against Italy's own average pace of 1.9% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in faster than that pace.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Pine Nuts Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 19.80/KG
• Pakistan: USD 15.10/KG
• Russia: USD 17.90/KG
• Italy: USD 45.20/KG

Pine Nuts Prices in China

USD 19.80/KG. That is where China landed in Q1 2026, up 1.7% from USD 19.47/KG in Q4 2025, placing it the 2nd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q1 2026 in China?

Early-year demand held steady, supporting a modest start to 2026, leaving China running roughly 19.2% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is slower than the 2.2% average quarterly move China has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Pine Nuts Prices in Pakistan

Pakistan's price gained 1.5% to USD 15.10/KG, export order books firmed as the new year began, putting it the most affordable of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q1 2026 in Pakistan?

Export order books firmed as the new year began, with Pakistan now sitting about 38.4% below the 4-region average this quarter.

Pakistan has averaged 2.2% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in slower than that longer-run pace.

Pine Nuts Prices in Russia

In Q1 2026, Russia priced at USD 17.90/KG, up 1.6% from USD 17.62/KG the previous quarter, making it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q1 2026 in Russia?

Steady regional demand supported a firm early-year gain, which puts Russia roughly 26.9% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 2.1% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Russia's move this quarter landed slower than that trend.

Pine Nuts Prices in Italy

Italy reached USD 45.20/KG in Q1 2026, consistent culinary demand carried prices higher despite the limited available harvest, ranking it the priciest among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Pine Nuts change in Q1 2026 in Italy?

Consistent culinary demand carried prices higher despite the limited available harvest, working out to Italy trading about 84.5% above this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against Italy's own average pace of 1.9% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in slower than that pace.

Quarterly Pine Nuts Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 23.00/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 25.47 by Q2 2026, a gain of 10.8% over six quarters.

What was Pine Nuts Price in 2025?

2025 was a steadily firming year for pine nuts. Starting near USD 23.00/KG in Q1, the global average finished the year at USD 24.12, a 4.9% increase across the four quarters.

Pine Nuts Prices in China in 2025

China prices moved from about USD 18.50/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 19.47 by Q4, up roughly 5.2%, leaving China in 2 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Pine Nuts Prices in Pakistan in 2025

Pakistan prices moved from about USD 14.20/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 14.87 by Q4, up roughly 4.7%. That left Pakistan ranked 4 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

Pine Nuts Prices in Russia in 2025

Russia prices moved from about USD 16.80/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 17.62 by Q4, up roughly 4.9%, placing Russia 3 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

Pine Nuts Prices in Italy in 2025

Italy prices moved from about USD 42.50/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 44.51 by Q4, up roughly 4.7%. Italy closed the year ranked 1 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Pine Nuts Price Intelligence

Our analysts track pine nuts pricing across every major producing and consuming region, working back from the headline number to the pine nut crop harvesting costs and demand shifts actually driving it. That view gets refreshed regularly as new cost, policy, and demand data comes in.

Production capacity, feedstock cost trends, and regional demand signals all feed into our forecasts, which are built to support real procurement decisions like budgeting and supplier negotiation rather than serve as a single static reference point.

Our analysts can also provide a more granular regional breakdown, extended historical data beyond this report's six-quarter window, or a custom sourcing analysis built for your specific footprint.

We track species-specific origin data closely, since the pine nut category spans genuinely different products at genuinely different price points that a single blended average would obscure.