Pine nuts can win bigger share

Demand for Pakistani nuts surges in China on consumer interest in healthy snacks

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Despite the product’s high quality, Pakistan’s pine nut sector faces challenges including limited processing facilities, inadequate packaging and inconsistent quality standards. photo:File

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BEIJING:

As China's demand for high-quality and nutritious food products continues to grow, Pakistani pine nuts are emerging as a promising export with significant market potential.

Harvested from the pristine mountainous regions of northern Pakistan, these premium nuts are renowned for their rich flavour, high nutritional value and natural cultivation methods. Despite their superior quality and geographical proximity to China, Pakistani pine nuts currently account for only a modest share of China's rapidly expanding premium nut market.

Pakistan's chilgoza (pine nut) forests are concentrated in North and South Waziristan, along with parts of Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to Amjad Zarin, Associate Professor at Jilin International Studies University, North and South Waziristan contribute around 80-85% of the country's total pine nut output. North Waziristan produces an estimated 1,700-2,000 metric tons annually, while South Waziristan adds 800-900 metric tons.

Pakistan's overall chilgoza production typically ranges between 2,100 and 2,900 metric tons per year, with higher yields possible under favourable weather conditions, he told the China Economic Net (CEN).

China becomes most important market

Chinese demand for Pakistani pine nuts has surged over the past few years, driven by rising consumer interest in healthy snacks and imported premium food products. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), Pakistan's pine nut exports to China nearly doubled between 2023 and 2025.

AM Enterprises CEO Abdul Mateen told CEN that his company has been exporting Pakistani pine nuts to China for the past 12 years. He noted that Chinese consumers highly prefer Pakistani chilgoza due to its thin shell, crispy texture and mild flavour. According to traders, nearly 80-90% of Pakistan's pine nut exports are now destined for the Chinese market.

GACC data showed that Pakistan's pine nut exports to China recorded a robust growth between 2023 and 2025, with export volumes nearly doubling from 579.8 tons to 1,147 tons. Export earnings surged from $8.2 million in 2023 to a peak of $18.8 million in 2024 before easing slightly to $17.9 million in 2025.

Abdul Mateen, working closely with China since 2014, says China and Pakistan have significant room to deepen cooperation in agricultural processing and value-added exports. Key areas include modern cleaning and sorting systems, dehydration technology, roasting and deep-processing facilities, advanced packaging and cold-chain logistics.

Such collaboration could enhance product quality, extend shelf life, reduce post-harvest losses and help Pakistani exporters develop premium retail products for global markets. Expanding e-commerce cooperation would also give Pakistani pine nuts wider access to Chinese consumers and strengthen bilateral agricultural trade.

Rising prices reflect strong demand

Pine nut prices inside Pakistan have risen sharply over recent years due to strong global demand. According to local traders, pine nut prices in Islamabad range between Rs4,500 and Rs8,000 per kg in 2025-26, while export-quality nuts can fetch up to Rs12,000 per kg. Abdul Mateen said that within China the average price was RMB 130 per kg in 2025.

Amjad Zarin told CEN that in Wana Bazaar, prices were from around Rs2,200-2,500 per kg in 2025 to nearly Rs2,700 during winter due to seasonal demand. They have been almost same this year so far.

Industry experts regard China as the most promising export destination for Pakistani pine nuts, supported by its vast consumer base and rising demand for premium imported foods. Despite the product's high quality, Pakistan's pine nut sector faces challenges including limited processing facilities, inadequate packaging and inconsistent quality standards.

Experts believe that stronger cooperation with Chinese investors, food-processing companies and e-commerce platforms could help modernise the industry and increase value-added exports. Improved processing, branding, certification and supply chain management would enable Pakistani pine nuts to compete more effectively in China's premium nut market.
This article originally appeared on the China Economic Net