The California Walnut Board of Folsom, CA has released its April 2026 shipment report showing continued growth in walnut shipments during both the month and the 2025/26 marketing season.
Total April shipments reached 142.0 million pounds in-shell equivalent, up 25.1 per cent from 113.6 million pounds in April 2025. Kernel shipments are converted to in-shell equivalent using a 42.5 per cent crackout ratio.
Compared with March 2026, total April shipments declined 14.6 per cent from 166.4 million pounds. In-shell shipments decreased from 30.5 million pounds in March to 26.6 million pounds in April, while kernel shipments declined from 57.8 million pounds to 49.0 million pounds.
Year-on-year growth was led by in-shell shipments, which increased from 5.6 million pounds in April 2025 to 26.6 million pounds in April 2026, a rise of 378.0 per cent. Kernel shipments increased 6.9 per cent from 45.9 million pounds to 49.0 million pounds.
Kernel shipments accounted for 81.2 per cent of total volume on an in-shell-equivalent basis, compared with 95.1 per cent in April 2025.
According to market participants, the higher shipment pace reflects improved supply availability and efforts by sellers to move inventory in a lower price environment, rather than stronger consumer demand.
Through the first eight months of the 2025/26 marketing year from September to April, total shipments reached 1.19 billion pounds in-shell equivalent, up 22.9 per cent from 965.6 million pounds during the same period last season.
In-shell shipments more than doubled during the period, increasing 108.7 per cent from 133.8 million pounds to 279.1 million pounds. Kernel shipments rose 9.1 per cent to 385.8 million pounds.
The industry has sold 76.1 per cent of 2025/26 receipts through April, based on total receipts of 1.62 billion pounds, including both shipped volumes and outstanding commitments of 324.4 million pounds in-shell equivalent. Conventional walnuts represented 98 per cent of receipts, while organic walnuts accounted for 2 per cent.
When including carryover inventory from the previous season, the industry has sold 70.1 per cent of the total available supply.
According to industry sources, shipment activity continues to reflect efforts by handlers to move available inventory following last season’s lower production levels.