12 World’s Most Produced Nuts
12 World’s Most Produced Nuts- According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2023, there were 12 World’s Most Produced Nuts in 2021. Commonly, many people in this world fond of these nuts and consumed these nuts. Furthermore, many nutritious contents inside the nuts which is good for human bodies make the nuts still have increasing demand from time to time. Moreover, some of the nuts can be processed into some vegetable oil, industrial oil, and others.
Physically, a nut is a fruit consisting of a hard nutshell protecting a kernel. in this world, there are many popular nuts. Here is the rank of 12 most produced nuts in 2021. All the data came from FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2023.
The Rank of 12 World’s Most Produced Nuts
| Rank | Kind of Nuts | World’s Production in 2021 | World’s Harvested Areas in 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | (Hectares) | ||
| 1 | Coconuts | 63,683,595 | 11,307,699 |
| 2 | Peanuts / Groundnuts | 53,926,894 | 32,720,960 |
| 3 | Almonds | 3,993,998 | 2,283,414 |
| 4 | Cashew nuts | 3,708,153 | 6,564,818 |
| 5 | Walnut | 3,500,172 | 1,137,788 |
| 6 | Chest nuts | 2,269,923 | 568,175 |
| 7 | Hazelnuts | 1,077,177 | 1,039,147 |
| 8 | Pistachios | 915,717 | 817,025 |
| 9 | Shea nuts | 811,370 | 684,283 |
| 10 | Tung nuts | 453,632 | 166,426 |
| 11 | Kola nuts | 311,331 | 565,857 |
| 12 | Brazil nuts | 73,793 | |
| Source: FAOSTAT, 2023 | |||
Brief Description of 12 World’s Most Produced Nuts
1.Coconuts
Coconuts still became the world’s most produced nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2023, the world’s production of coconuts reached 63,683,595 tons with harvested areas around 11,307,699 hectares. Some people in Asia called the coconut trees as “tree of life”. Specifically, the coconuts itself including its endosperm parts (the coconut meat) can be eaten when in immature coconut conditions and the coconut water can be drunk too. Furthermore, the coconut can be processed into some derivatives products including coconut oil, coconut flour, coconut vinegar, and others.
Based on the data of FAOSTAT in 2023, the coconut can be found mostly in Asia regions. There are some countries with huge production of coconuts. Some of them are India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Brazil, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar.
2.Peanuts / Groundnuts
Peanuts / groundnuts is the second most produced nuts in 2021. Statistically, the world’s production of peanuts / groundnuts reached 53,926,894 tons with world’s harvested areas reached 32,720,960 hectares. The plant of groundnuts / peanuts (Arachis hipogea) is native to South America and nowadays this plant can be found in a large number of countries. Nutritionally, the nuts basically are rich in proteins and many people fond of this nut. Functionally, the endosperm / kernels of gorundnuts can be eaten after boiling its, or processed into some derivatives products including peanut oil, peanut butter, peanut flour, and others.
According to FAOSTAT, the production of peanut can be found into several regions but there are 10 world’s largest producers of groundnuts/ peanuts in 2021. These countries include China, India, Nigeria, USA, Sudan, Senegal, Myanmar, Argentina, and others.
3.Almonds
Almonds is the third most produced nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the world’s production of almonds reached 3,993,998 tons with world’s harvested areas achieved 2,283,414 hectares. The almond plant (Prunus amygdalus) originally come from Iran and its surrounding regions. Nowadays, the almond nuts can be eaten on raw or toasted. This nuts also were added into a component of various dishes. In addition, in the food industries, the almond nuts can be processed into some product including almond paste, almond butter, almond milk, almond flour, almond oil, and others.
According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2023, there are some countries with huge production of nuts in 2021. These countries include USA, Spain, Australia, Türkiye, Morocco, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Italia, and others.
4.Cashew nuts
Cashew nuts also has huge production in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the world’s production of cashew nuts reached 3,708,153 tons with world’s harvested areas around 6,564,818 hectares. Originally, the cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale) came from Northeastern Brazil and Southeastern Venezuela and the nuts can be processed into some derivative products including cashew milk, cashew oil, and others. Furthermore, in some regions, cashew nut can be added into some dishes or can be eaten as snack. According to FAO Statistical Database in 2021, there are some countries with had huge production of cashew nuts in 2021. These countries include Cote d’Ivoire, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Tanzania, Indonesia, Benin.
5.Walnut
Statistically, the world’s production of walnuts in 2021 achieved 3,500,172 tons with world’s harvested areas around 1,137,788 hectares. The walnut was popular with the name of “royal nut” at Byzantine era. Nowadays, there are three species of walnuts which commonly grown in the world. These species include Persian/ English walnut (Juglands regia), black walnut (Juglands nigra), and the Japanese walnut / heartnut (Juglans ailantifolia). Functionally, the nuts can be used as ingredient of a dish. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2021, there are some countries with huge production of walnuts. Some of the countries are China, USA, Iran, Türkiye, Chile, Burkina Faso.
6.Chestnuts
Chestnuts still one of the most popular nuts in the world of 2021. Statistically, the world’s production of chestnuts reached 2,269,923 tons with harvested areas around 568,175 hectares. The chesnut is deciduous trees including the genus of castanea. Commonly, chestnut can be divided into different species of plants namely american chesnuts, asian chesnut, and european chesnut. American chestnuts include species of Castanea dentata, Castanea pumila, Castanea ozarkensis, Castanea Chrysophylla. Meanwhile, Asian chestnuts are Castanea mollissima, Castanea henryi, Castanea seguinii, Castanea crenata. Furthermore, European chestnuts include Castanea sativa.
Statistically, according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with huge production of chestnuts. These countries include China, Spain, Bolivia, Turkey, Republic of Korea, Italy, and Portugal.
7. Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts also became one of the most produced nuts in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the world’s production of hazelnuts in 2021 reached 1,077,177 tons with harvested areas reached 1,039,147 hectares. Hazelnuts plants is deciduous plant from the genus of Corylus. Functionally, Hazelnuts can be used as a snack food (baking and desserts), breakfast cereals, and as mixture in making chocolates. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with huge production of hazelnuts in 2021. These countries include Türkiye, Italy, USA, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Chile.
8. Pistachios
Pistachios still has huge production in 2021. Statistically, the world’s production of Pistachios reached 915,717 tons and world’s harvested areas of pistachios reached 817,025 hectares. the pistachio plant (Pistacia vera) is believed to comes from regions of Central Asia in the vicinity of Iran and Afghanistan. the nuts of pistachios can be eaten fresh or roasted and salted. Furthermore, it can be processed into some derivatives products including pistachio ice cream, pistachio paste, pistachio salad, pistachio pudding, and others. Statistically, according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with huge production of pistachios nuts. These countries include USA, Iran, Türkiye, China, Syria, Madagascar, Tunisia.
9. Shea nuts
According to FAOSTAT 2021, the world’s production of Shea nuts achieved 811,370 tons with world’s harvested areas around 684,283 hectares. The Shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa) is the tree from the family of Sapotaceae. The she trees can be found mostly in Africa regions. Functionally, the nuts of shea trees can be used as food and medicinal purposes. Statistically, according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), there are some countries with huge production of shea trees. Some of them are Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo.
10. Tung nuts
The world’s production of Tungnuts in 2021 reached 453,632 tons with world’s harvested areas of tung nuts reached 166,426 hectares. The tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is the trees which is included into Euphorbiaceae family. This plant is believed come from southern China, Myanmar, and northern Vietnam. Functionally, the nuts of tung trees can be processed into tung oil.
11. Kola nuts
Kola nuts is one of the most produced nuts in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the world’s production of kola nuts reached 311,331 tons with world’s harvested areas achieved 565,857 hectares. The kola nut commonly bitter flavour and contains caffeine. This nuts basically can be used as medicines and added into some flavoured beverages.
12. Brazil nuts
Statistically, the world’s production of Brazil nuts reached 73,793 tons. The plant of brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is believed to come from Guianas, Venezuela, Brazil, eastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia. Functionally, brazil nuts can be processed into Brazil nut oil.
The Summary of 12 World’s Most Produced Nuts
Bibliography of 12 World’s Most Produced Nuts
FAOSTAT. 2023. Crops and livestock products. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on November 10th, 2023.