Pecans (In-Shell & Kernels)

In-shell and halves by count per pound from the USA, Mexico & South Africa

Pecans have no subheading of their own in the six-digit Harmonized System: since HS 2022 they sit in 0802.99 (other nuts), and the US tariff separates them nationally as 0802.99.10 in shell and 0802.99.15 shelled, so trade figures for pecans are read through that basket. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 0802.99 show the USA at USD 457 million and 64,175 MT and South Africa at USD 157 million and 33,562 MT, and Mexico's pecan trade shows up on the buyer's side: the USA declared USD 492 million and 60,361 MT of 0802.99 imports from Mexico in 2024, and China a further USD 80 million and 17,807 MT. Mexican pecans, grown largely in Chihuahua, are harvested from August to December with most of the crop in November; South Africa harvests from May to about July, and nearly all of its in-shell exports go to China, arriving ahead of the autumn festivals and Chinese New Year. One live factor for any China-bound pecan business: on 10 August 2026 China's Ministry of Commerce issued a preliminary anti-dumping ruling on pecans from the USA and Mexico, with provisional deposits from 11 August of 54.3% on US pecans and 17.8% to 51.6% on Mexican pecans depending on the exporter.

Shelled pecans are sold by grade, colour and half size, and the half size is a count per pound: Mammoth 250 or fewer halves, Junior Mammoth 251-300, Jumbo 301-350, Extra Large 351-450, Large 451-550, Medium 551-650 and Topper 651 or more, with pieces sold by screen size below that. The USDA grade standards for in-shell and shelled pecans were revised in 2024 toward U.S. Extra Fancy, U.S. Fancy, U.S. Choice and U.S. Standard. Mammoth and Junior Mammoth halves go to retail packs, pies and decoration where the half is seen; smaller halves and pieces go to bakery, pralines, ice cream and cereal; in-shell pecans go mainly to the Chinese roasted-snack trade. In the EU pecans fall under the general tree-nut aflatoxin limits in Regulation (EU) 2023/915, 2.0 µg/kg B1 and 4.0 µg/kg total for nuts placed on the market and 5.0 / 10.0 µg/kg for nuts to be sorted. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers in-shell pecans and pecan kernels from US, Mexican and South African shellers and packers against a certificate of analysis for grade, size, moisture, aflatoxin and microbiology, a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin, with kernels in cartons and in-shell in bulk bags, container-load, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Send the form, grade, half size or piece screen, colour, volume and destination, and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.