Entering the European market for groundnuts

Europe offers a large and diverse market for groundnuts. Buyers expect safe, clean and well-documented products. European buyers pay close attention to aflatoxins, pesticide residues, allergens, packaging and traceability. Specialised importers are the best first channel for most SME exporters. Argentina is still the premium supplier of groundnuts, while China, the United States and Brazil compete in terms of scale, processing and price.

1. What requirements and certifications must groundnuts meet to be allowed on the European market?

General requirements that apply to nuts are described in the CBI study on buyer requirements. The advice below applies specifically to groundnut imports.

In this study, the term ‘Europe’ refers to European Union (EU) countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The term ‘low- and middle-income countries’ refers to countries on the OECD-DAC list.

What are mandatory requirements?

Groundnuts must be safe before they enter Europe. EU food law places the main duty on the food business operator. You must prove traceability from farm, lot and store to the buyer. Keep records for shelling, cleaning, drying, storage and transport. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has had its own food standard system since Brexit. Northern Ireland, however, still follows EU rules so that goods can still freely move across the Irish border without customs checks.

Food hygiene rules also apply to groundnuts. Exporters need to prevent contamination at every step. This includes pests, dust, mould, foreign matter and unsafe storage, and ensuring proper drying. EU hygiene law places the main responsibility on the food business operator. It also requires hygiene controls throughout the whole food chain.

Between 2021 and 2025, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) recorded more than 900 border rejections for groundnut or peanut shipments. Most of them were classified as serious or potentially serious. Most of these shipments were stopped because of excess aflatoxin.

Microbiological contaminants

Aflatoxin control is the main issue for groundnuts. This contamination can occur when groundnuts grow or after harvesting. The EU has set maximum levels for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins. For groundnuts sold to consumers or used as a food ingredient, the stricter limit should be used as a target. This is 2.0 µg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 4.0 µg/kg for total aflatoxins. Higher limits (8.0 µg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 15.0 µg/kg for total aflatoxins) only apply to lots that will still be sorted or treated before use.

European buyers will often reject contaminated lots before they reach the border. They may also claim costs if the lot fails official controls. For example, the RASFF notified the rejection of an Egyptian shipment of in-shell groundnuts to Italy in 2024 because of high aflatoxin content. Peanut butter shipments can also be rejected for high aflatoxin content, such as one shipment from India to Germany in 2024. 

Pesticide residues

Pesticide residues need to stay below EU maximum residue levels. These levels apply also to imported food. Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 states that the default limit is 0.01 mg/kg if no specific limit exists. Check the EU Pesticides Database for specific limits for groundnuts before each season.

Great Britain has its own pesticide-residue register. Check the Great Britain register when you export to England, Scotland or Wales. The default British maximum residue level is also 0.01 mg/kg. EU law and EU MRLs apply in Northern Ireland.

Between 2021 and 2025, the RASFF reported several border rejections for groundnut/peanut shipments from Brazil, which contained pesticides. In 2024, the Netherlands detained a shipment of groundnuts from Brazil contaminated with chlorpyriphos-ethyl pesticide. 

Border control

Groundnuts imported into the EU are subject to customs procedures under the Union Customs Code, as well as food safety controls under the EU’s legislation on official controls. For groundnuts with repeated non-compliance risks, especially aflatoxin contamination, the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 applies. This regulation sets out 2 relevant lists: Annex I for temporary increased official controls, and Annex II for products subject to special conditions for entry into the EU. 

Annex I includes groundnuts and groundnut products from China, Ghana and the United States because of aflatoxin risks. The frequency of identity and physical checks for groundnuts and peanut butter is 10% for China, 50% for Ghana and 20% for the United States. On 30 June 2026, Argentina was also added to Annex I for groundnuts and their products. If your country is listed in Annex I, the operator responsible for the consignment in the EU needs to pre-notify the shipment through TRACES. This is done by completing the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) before arrival. For groundnuts, the relevant document is the CHED-D (consignments of food and feed of non-animal origin). 

Annex II includes groundnuts and groundnut products from Bolivia, Egypt and India because of aflatoxin risks. If your country is listed in Annex II, your shipments must be accompanied by the CHED-D, official sampling and analysis results and by an official certificate. The frequency of identity and physical checks is 50% for Bolivia, 30% for Egypt and 50% for India.

Annex I increases the chance of border checks. Annex II adds a stronger documentation burden before export. Exporters from Annex II countries should plan more time and cost for official testing, certificates and document checks.

Great Britain also treats some groundnuts as high-risk foods. Importers need to pre-notify authorities through the Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS). In the 2026 guidance, groundnut products from Argentina, Bolivia, China, Egypt, India, Madagascar, Paraguay, Senegal, Sudan and the USA appeared under high-risk controls, and they may require a Common Health Entry Document (CHED-D).

Other contaminants 

Other contaminants are also monitored. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in food. The maximum permitted level of cadmium is 0.2 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg for nickel in groundnuts. 

Contamination with foreign objects can occur. The RASFF system reported several border rejections due to the presence of foreign bodies. A shipment of peanut paste from Spain was rejected in 2023 after glass was detected. The Netherlands also reported finding a piece of glass in crunchy peanut butter in 2024. After a consumer complaint about metallic foreign bodies in groundnuts and almonds from Spain in 2022, several EU countries recalled the product. 

Labelling

Consumer labels must make it clear that groundnuts can cause allergies. Labelling rules apply when groundnuts enter retail or food-service packs. The word ‘peanuts’ should be clear to consumers. For specific labelling requirements, consult EU labelling regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. 

Bulk business-to-business shipments also need correct product and allergen information. Give this information in specifications, invoices or delivery documents. Groundnuts and tree nuts are reported as leading causes of food-induced anaphylaxis fatalities in the UK and Canada.

Shipments that are not properly labelled are taken off the market. For example, France withdrew a product that contained undeclared peanuts in a dried fruit mix in 2023. The Netherlands issued a similar notification for a failure to declare peanuts in a nut mixture in 2023. 

Packaging 

Packaging must protect groundnuts from moisture, oxygen, pests and contamination. Use clean, food-grade bags, liners or cartons. Food-contact materials cannot release unsafe substances into food. 

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force in 2025. Most rules will apply as of August 2026. It covers all packaging sold in the EU. The regulation requires all packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable. From 2030, packaging will need to meet EU recyclability performance grades. It also limits the total concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium in packaging to 100 mg/kg. 

What additional requirements and certifications do buyers often have?

Legal compliance is the first step. Most European groundnut buyers have additional requirements. These requirements are intended to lower food-safety risks, protect their brand and meet retailer demands. They may also have additional expectations, like flavour and taste. 

However, keep in mind that the general expectation is that all groundnuts supplied to Europe should be safe and suitable for human consumption, ultimately. They also need to be free from abnormal flavours, odours, living insects and mites. 

Commercial and reference standards 

Groundnut quality is defined by a mix of international reference standards and buyer-specifications. The Codex Alimentarius Standard for Peanuts sets general quality expectations and specific standards. The specific ones include maximum moisture levels of 10% for groundnuts in-pod and 9% for groundnut kernels. There are other specific standards too, including allowed defects, size, uniformity and skin colour. Some criteria, such as flavour, depend partly on the buyer’s product use and customer preference.

The most useful commercial quality references for exporters to Europe are the UNECE standards for raw and roasted peanut kernels (DDP-36) and raw and roasted in-shell peanuts (DDP-35). They classify peanuts into Extra Class, Class I and Class II, and set tolerances for defects. They are voluntary commercial standards. European buyers often use them in contracts and product specifications.

Exporters should agree on size and grade terms before shipment. In the peanut trade, size is often expressed by count per ounce, such as 38/42 or 40/50. This means the number of kernels in one ounce. The United States grading system and the American Peanut Shellers Association rules still influence the international peanut trade, especially for export peanuts.

Food safety certification

Many buyers ask for a food-safety certificate recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This is often needed to sell to large importers, processors and retailers. The GFSI does not certify companies itself. It recognises certification programmes that meet its rules.

BRCGS Food Safety, IFS Food and FSSC 22000 are the most common GFSI-recognised options. 

Figure 1: Roasted and salted redskin peanuts

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Buyer-specific quality demands

Buyers also have their own quality specifications. These can be stricter than public standards. They may concern kernel size, variety, moisture, splits, damaged kernels or another specific request. 

For aflatoxins, many buyers use stricter internal limits than the law requires. They do this to create a safety margin. A lot can pass an origin test and still fail in Europe. Aflatoxins are unevenly spread in groundnuts. So, you should expect larger buyers to ask for sampling plans, lot history and laboratory reports from accredited laboratories. 

Codex Alimentarius revised its peanut aflatoxin code in 2025. It gives very useful practical guidance on field, harvest, drying, storage and transport controls.

Buyers can also reject shipments if groundnut deliveries are contaminated with certain smells. Groundnuts are highly sensitive to strong odours as their high oil content means they absorb smells, for example the smell of phenol. Groundnuts easily absorb fumes from the container environment. Contaminated shipments cannot be used for human consumption. Depending on the severity, the shipment can then only be used for animal feed or have to be completely destroyed. 

Traceability has become a normal buyer requirement. Buyers want to know the farm area, buying station, shelling factory, storage site and container number. They may ask for a full lot code on each bag or pallet. This helps them act fast if a quality problem appears. 

Packaging requirements

Packaging requirements are often buyer-specific. Bulk groundnuts are often transported in jute bags, polypropylene bags, big bags or cartons with inner liners. Roasted groundnuts are mainly transported in big bags with capacities between 900 and 1,000 kg. Peanut paste is often shipped in drums of 200 litres or buckets of 10 or 20 litres. 

Buyers will insist on clean, odour-free, food-grade packaging. They may have certain requests for pallets, container liners and humidity indicators. Controlling packaging and humidity reduces mould and rancidity risks during sea transport.

Social compliance

Social compliance is now common in supply chains. Large groundnut buyers may ask for Sedex membership and/or a SMETA audit. Sedex membership provides a lot of benefits to suppliers and is less costly. SMETA audits check labour, health and safety, environmental management and business practices. 

Some buyers also ask for and use amfori BSCI for social risk management. Amfori also offers amfori BEPI for environmental risk management.

Large buyers in Europe are under more pressure to check human rights and supply chain risks. Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act requires large companies to address human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains. The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will also require large companies to carry out due diligence checks across their value chains.

What are the requirements for niche markets?

Niche markets have specific demands for groundnut suppliers. Without meeting these demands, suppliers are often excluded from competing in these markets. These demands come on top of mandatory requirements. 

Organic groundnuts

To sell groundnuts as organic in Europe, you need organic certification under Regulation (EU) 2018/848. The buyer also needs an electronic certificate of inspection in TRACES for every organic import consignment.

Keep in mind that organic certification does not replace regular food safety controls. Organic groundnuts still need to meet strict limits for aflatoxins, pesticide residues and contaminants. 

Ask your buyer which organic standard or certification scheme they need. Common organic certifications include EU Organic, Bio Suisse, Naturland and Demeter, each with its own requirements.

Sustainability certification

Fairtrade is a smaller niche for groundnuts than organic. Still, it can work for smallholder groups. Fairtrade covers peanuts under nuts and oils. Fairtrade International publishes Fairtrade minimum prices and Fairtrade premium prices for conventional and organic groundnuts. These prices apply worldwide. FLOCERT also lets buyers check certified suppliers through its customer search tool. There were 51 Fairtrade-certified groundnut suppliers in May 2026 according to the FLOCERT search tool.

Rainforest Alliance also offers certification for groundnuts under the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard (SAS). The SAS is an internationally recognised framework for sustainable farming. It is designed to protect ecosystems, conserve wildlife, and improve the livelihoods of farmers and workers.

Some well-developed markets in Europe offer other possibilities for certification. Naturland Fair can be better for suppliers that want to work with a stricter German niche. It combines organic farming, fair trade and social responsibility. The Naturland Fair standard has additional requirements beyond those of the regular Naturland logo standards. 

Religious certification

Religious niches can offer stable demand. Halal certification may help boost sales of groundnut snacks and peanut butter for Muslim consumers. Kosher certification is also a boost that can support sales to the Jewish community.

2. Through which channels can you get groundnuts on the European market?

As groundnuts are a commonly used and widely traded product, they enter the European market through various channels.

How is the end-market segmented?

The European groundnut end-market is best segmented by industry use. Most exporters from low- and middle-income countries sell raw kernels, blanched kernels, splits or in-shell groundnuts. European buyers then roast, pack, grind or use them in food products. Finding the right buyer is important. 

Figure 2: End-market segments for groundnuts in Europe

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Food industry and B2B processing 

The food industry and business-to-business (B2B) processing segment is the most interesting segment for groundnut exporters. It buys larger volumes and works with raw and semi-processed groundnuts. Buyers use these groundnuts for peanut butter, snacks, confectionery, bakery products, sauces, cereals and ready meals.

This segment has strict quality requirements. Buyers need low aflatoxin levels, pesticide compliance, good moisture control, traceability and reliable test reports.

The Dutch C. Steinweg Group, its subsidiary Stockinvest, and Bredabest are major players that show the importance of the Netherlands as a groundnut processing and re-export hub. Bredabest processes groundnuts into consumer and semi-finished products for retail and food industry partners. Steinweg’s Rotterdam operations cover the storage, distribution, blanching and roasting of groundnuts. Stockinvest supplies roasted groundnuts and peanut paste across Europe. Its products are used in peanut butter, snacks, confectionery, sauces and ready meals. 

Other important European players include Swartberg, August Töpfer, Rhumveld, Importaco and Calconut. 

Figure 3: Two versions of coated groundnuts 

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Snack segment 

The snack segment is the most visible consumer segment. There are many versions of processed groundnuts that target buyers in this segment. These include salted, roasted, coated, flavoured groundnuts and nut mixes. This segment is harder to enter directly with a finished product as there is a lot of competition. 

Retailers and snack brands often need private-label packing. Exporters that only sell raw kernels should first target roasters, packers and snack manufacturers. However, exporters that can roast and pack can target private-label buyers. This also means you will need stronger documentation, retail-ready packaging and often higher working capital.

There are many strong brands in this segment. KP Nuts is the largest brand in the British nut market. Intersnack offers snack brands like ültje and Vico.

Peanut butter and spreads segment 

The peanut butter segment offers growing opportunities for exporters to Europe. Demand is supported by a pan-European shift to plant-based eating, high-protein snacks and simple ingredient lists. 

Figure 4: Flavoured peanut butters

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Consider this market channel if you can source high-quality kernels and high-oleic peanuts with good flavour. Expect European buyers to be picky. They will assess peanut butter for taste, roast colour, grind quality, oil separation and shelf life.

Competition is fierce and consolidation is taking place. Pip & Nut became a leading UK nut butter brand in 2025, while KP Snacks bought Whole Earth Foods in 2024 to strengthen its nut butter range.

In-shell and specialty segment 

The in-shell and speciality segment is smaller, but it can be useful if you have the right product. Spain, Italy and Germany are the main importers of in-shell groundnuts in the EU. For more data on their imports, check out the CBI study on the European market potential for groundnuts. 

In-shell buyers focus a lot on visual quality. Pods must be clean, well-filled and uniform. Buyers will reject shipments with mould, insects, damage or a bad smell. This segment is stricter than bulk industrial use because consumers see the pods. 

Through which channels do groundnuts end up on the end-market?

Most groundnut exporters do not sell to European retailers directly. Although groundnuts are a simple product, there are many activities that need to be done properly before the product reaches the European consumer. European importers and processors often handle very important activities. These include storage, roasting, blanching, packing and delivery.

Figure 5: European market channels for groundnuts

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Importers/Wholesalers

Importers are a major market channel. Many importers act as wholesalers, traders or distributors. They buy raw groundnuts in bulk from origin countries. They sell them to processors, packers, food manufacturers and other wholesalers. They also manage risk for European buyers. Some importers like Swartberg also have processing and packing equipment. 

Specialist logistics and storage companies play a role in the groundnut channel. C. Steinweg Group has a strong role in Rotterdam. It stores and distributes groundnuts and tree nuts and offers services like blanching and roasting. 

De NotenBeurs is another useful Dutch wholesaler and packer. It imports nuts from around the world and has experience with peanuts, nuts, dried fruits and rice crackers. Its range includes bulk peanuts and packed peanut products for business-to-business customers.

This channel matters most for SME exporters. It gives access to several end-markets through one buyer. It also helps if your volumes are not large enough for a direct processor contract. 

Other European examples in this category include Rhumveld, King Nuts and Raaphorst and ZIELER & CO.

Agents/brokers/traders

Agents and brokers remain important in the European groundnut trade. They are very useful for exporters that need market access, buyer contacts and price information. They can also help with negotiations. Commission agents sell products on behalf of suppliers and receive a commission. Meanwhile, brokers act as independent intermediaries between buyers and sellers.

Commission rates depend on the product, the order value, the service level and the risks taken by the agent or broker. Groundnut brokers, agents and traders include Cardassilaris Family (Greece), Aldebaran Commodities, QFN Trading & Agency, ProNut, Cornhouse and Parto Rotterdam (the Netherlands), and Belfrudis (Belgium).

Retail 

Retailers rarely buy directly from exporters in low- and middle-income countries. In most cases, they buy through European importers, processors and packers.

The European retail sector is split between discounters, mid-market retailers and more premium retail formats. Savills’ 2026 grocery report uses categories such as hard discount, mid-market and premium-lean for Europe’s largest grocery groups.

Figure 6: Peanut biscuits

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Europe’s top retail groups by revenue in 2025 were Schwarz Group (hard discount), REWE Group (mid-market/hard discount), ALDI (hard discount), Tesco (mid-market), Carrefour (mid-market) and EDEKA Group (mid-market/hard discount).

Foodservice 

The foodservice channel is usually supplied by wholesalers, foodservice distributors, cash-and-carry operators and specialised importers.

Foodservice buyers often need packaging formats that differ from bulk industrial packs and small retail packs. They need peanut products in 1 kg, 3 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg and larger format sizes. For example, Swartberg supplies larger packaging formats to wholesale and hospitality customers.

World cuisines, street-food formats, plant-based eating and health are still important foodservice drivers in Europe. Asian cuisines are becoming more popular across the continent. Thai, Indonesian and Chinese cuisine often use groundnuts in sauces and dishes. This creates demand for roasted and crushed groundnuts and groundnut paste in foodservice packaging.

What is the most interesting channel for you?

The most interesting channel is specialised European importers or wholesalers. This channel gives SME exporters the easiest first access to Europe. Importers understand EU checks, customs, food safety rules and buyer needs.

Specialised importers are useful because groundnuts are a risk-sensitive product. Buyers must limit aflatoxins, pesticide residues and allergen risks. European rules change frequently, and importers are well informed. 

Direct processor sales can give better margins than trader sales. However, buyers usually have stronger negotiation power. Large processors compare suppliers from several origins.

For price-competitive groundnut producers with strong processing and packing capacity, private-label packing can be an option. Buyers will expect GFSI-recognised certification. 

3. What competition do you face on the European groundnuts market?

Europe relies on imports for most groundnuts. Trade statistics in this study cover trade with in-shell groundnuts (HS 120241), shelled groundnuts (HS 120242) and prepared and preserved groundnuts (HS 200811). Annual growth in this study is expressed as compound annual growth rate or CAGR.

Which countries are you competing with?

The main competitors are Argentina, China, the United States and Brazil. Other important suppliers include Egypt, Nicaragua and India.

Source: Autentika Global, ITC, Eurostat, 2026

Argentina: Premium benchmark for European buyers

Argentina is the largest supplier of premium raw kernels in Europe. Argentine groundnuts are known for their naturally sweet taste, especially groundnuts from the southern Córdoba province. The INTA research institute links this sweetness to Córdoba’s cooler growing conditions, soil and crop nutrition. During grain filling, lower temperatures favour the conversion of starch to sucrose. A 2020 study found that higher soil temperature during seed filling negatively affects sugars and oil quality in peanut kernels.

This quality advantage is not only about taste. Argentina has also developed high-oleic peanut varieties. This helps delay rancidity and improve shelf life. Argentina is capitalising on the quality of its groundnuts. The ‘Córdoba Peanuts’ certificate of origin supports the image of Argentine peanuts and includes monitoring of chemical and nutritional quality.

Buyers see Argentina as a supplier of high-quality groundnuts with low aflatoxin levels. Most Argentine groundnut exports are shelled and blanched. This gives Argentina a strong position with European processors. It also helps importers reduce work after arrival. In January 2025, the Argentine government eliminated export taxes on groundnuts. 

Most groundnut inventory in Argentina is held by processors. They maintain their stock to provide raw material for their shelling and blanching processing and to keep steady exports throughout the year. Argentina’s groundnut industry earns more by providing value-added processing services. 

The USDA expects Argentina’s groundnut crop to drop to 1.35 million tonnes in the 2025/2026 marketing year. This is a significant drop from the record harvest of 1.81 million tonnes in the previous season. The USDA projected Argentina’s groundnut planted area to be 485,000 hectares in 2024/2025. This is expected to fall to 410,000 hectares in 2025/2026.

Argentina’s exports to Europe rose by 2.1% yearly between 2021 and 2025. Exported volumes to Europe reached a high of 521,405 tonnes in 2025. The lowest point was in 2024 when volumes dropped to 454,169 tonnes because of lower production. Argentina is the largest groundnut exporter to Europe. In 2021, it had a market share of 62.8%, which declined slightly to 60.8% in 2025. 

Argentina is expected to continue to grow its volume exports to Europe by 2% per year on average in the short and medium term. Argentina is still hard to beat on premium blanched kernels.

China: Strong in prepared groundnuts and price competition

China is a major competitor in prepared groundnuts and peanut butter-type trade. In 2025, China was the top global exporter of prepared and preserved groundnuts, exporting 373,116 tonnes. More than 26,000 tonnes of processed peanuts were exported to the Netherlands in 2025, from where they were sold to local buyers and re-exported to other markets.

China was the fastest-growing large groundnut exporter to Europe with an average annual growth rate of 8.8% from 2021 to 2025. Exports to Europe are likely to remain very dynamic. They are expected to grow by 6-7% per year in the next 3 years. This will likely slow in the longer term. China’s market share in Europe rose from just 7.9% in 2021 to 9.9% in 2025. 

China has a very large groundnut base. The USDA forecasts a production of 18.8 million tonnes in the 2026/2027 market year. This is up from 18.4 million tonnes in 2025/2026. The increase is due to expanded planting in emerging hubs like Jilin province. Groundnuts are more profitable than soybeans, corn and cotton. The groundnut production area is stable in most regions. It is expected to grow in the Xinjiang province in 2026/2027.

Slightly more than half of China’s groundnut crop is crushed. 42% is used for direct human food consumption, and the rest is for seed use and exports. China’s strength is the scale and volume that it can export to Europe. China’s weakness is buyer trust on food safety. The EU has stricter aflatoxin limits than China for many groundnut products. Recent research shows that climate change has increased the risk of groundnut aflatoxin contamination in China. 

It is hard to compete with China on price alone. Focus on pesticide control, aflatoxin test results and fast documentation. This can reduce the risk of delays or rejected shipments. It can also help you compete with Chinese suppliers, even if your price is higher. European buyers often pay more for fewer border risks.

United States: Reliable supply, but higher trade risk

The United States competes on quality, reliability, scale and peanut butter know-how. In 2021-2024, it was the fourth largest global exporter of shelled groundnuts, behind Argentina, India and Sudan. The US exported 432,676 tonnes of groundnuts in 2025, its smallest export volume since 2015.

Still, US production keeps growing. In market year 2025/2026, US peanut production reached a record high of 3.3 million tonnes, up 11% from the previous year.

The United States exported 58,157 tonnes of groundnuts to Europe in 2025, mostly to the Netherlands. Shipments to the Netherlands reached 19,635 tonnes in 2025. The second largest importer was Spain with 8,135 tonnes, followed by the UK with 7,910 tonnes and Germany with 6,965 tonnes. The US’ market share in Europe fell from 10% in 2021 to 6.8% in 2025.

In 2025, 57% of US exports to Europe were in-shell groundnuts, mostly to the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. US exports of processed groundnuts to Europe have fallen from 6,349 tonnes in 2021 to 5,163 tonnes in 2025.

US exporters also have strong technical support. The American Peanut Council (APC) helps companies export groundnuts to Europe. The trade relationship between Europe and the USA is becoming more fragile. In 2025, the EU said it would not impose retaliatory tariffs on US groundnuts and groundnut products. However, on 24 July 2025, the EU issued a final regulation in case a deal was not reached. The application of its main commercial rebalancing measures was suspended until 6 August 2026 by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/295.

Peanut butter is more exposed to tariff risks than raw kernels. US peanut butter exports to the EU fell sharply from 2017 levels. The APC data links this fall to retaliatory duties by the EU.

Brazil: Fast-growing value competitor

Brazil is the fourth largest groundnut exporter to Europe and the second fastest-growing competitor in this group after China. Brazil’s exports to Europe grew by 4.7% yearly between 2021 and 2025. Exports to Europe totalled 51,962 tonnes in 2025, up from 43,301 tonnes in 2021. Brazil held a 5.7% share of the European market in 2021. This increased to 6.1% in 2025. 

Brazil’s groundnut production has increased significantly over the last decade. It was estimated at 1.1 million tonnes in 2025 compared to less than 400,000 tonnes in 2015. Peanut acreage jumped from 220,900 hectares in 2023 to 255,400 hectares in 2024. Increased exports to China are helping to fuel this growth. 

A recently agreed EU-Mercosur trade deal will help exports of processed groundnuts from Argentina and Brazil more than it will help raw groundnuts. The agreement applies provisionally from 1 May 2026. The largest impact will be on peanut butter and other prepared or preserved groundnuts. 

Peanut butter under CN code 20081110 has a base EU duty of 12.8% and staging category 10. This duty will be removed gradually. ‘Staging category’ means the speed at which a tariff is reduced or removed under a trade agreement. Staging category 10 means the tariff is removed in 11 equal annual steps. The product becomes duty-free on 1 January of year 10. 

Prepared or preserved groundnuts under CN codes 20081191, 20081196 and 20081198 have base duties of 11.2–12.8% and staging category 7. This gives both Argentina and Brazil a greater chance to export more value-added products to Europe. 

Which companies are you competing with?

Many groundnut-producing, processing and exporting companies compete in the European market. The strongest suppliers are often based in large producing countries. They combine farming links, shelling, blanching, food safety systems and export services. 

Global ingredient groups also shape competition. For example, Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) supplies peanut ingredients for industrial users. European processors and snack brands, such as those owned by Intersnack, also influence demand for groundnuts in many forms.

Argentinean companies

Prodeman is a large, family-owned, specialised Argentine groundnut supplier for industrial buyers. The company exports to more than 40 countries. It offers groundnuts in bulk and retail formats, as well as peanut butter. The company produces more than 140,000 tonnes of groundnuts per year. 

Aceitera General Deheza (AGD) is one of Argentina’s leading groundnut companies and a major global supplier of edible peanuts. AGD says it exports about 25% of Argentina’s groundnuts sold to the world.

Maniagro is one of Argentina’s main producers and exporters of high-oleic peanuts. The company offers full traceability, from planting to exports. Lorenzati Ruetsch y Cia offers groundnuts, groundnut oil and value-added processing to customers around the world. Other important players include OLEGA, Gastaldi Hnos and Cotagro. 

Chinese companies

Qingdao Shengde Foods integrates peanut cultivation, processing and sales. The company is a processed-ingredient supplier, not only a kernel exporter. Qingdao Xuguang has 6 processing lines and exports graded kernels, in-shell groundnuts and blanched kernels to the EU and UK. Other important players include Shandong Guanghua, Tongsen Group, Qingdao Lvzhouyuan Peanut Foodstuff and peanut butter manufacturer Jixing Foods.

US companies

Golden Peanut (part of ADM’s ingredient network) is a major sheller and processor of peanuts with its headquarters in Georgia. This makes it strong in food manufacturing channels. Birdsong Peanuts buys peanuts from farmers, then cleans, shells, sizes and ships them. Premium Peanut is a grower-owned sheller and distributor. It says it handles about 10% of all peanuts harvested in America. American Peanut Growers Group is a grower-owned processing facility in Georgia that supplies Europe. Other players include Delta Peanut and Galdisa.

Brazilian companies

Coplana exports Brazilian premium peanuts to more than 40 countries. It is premium and cooperative-based.Beatrice Peanuts was recently described as Brazil’s largest groundnut exporter. Terranuts Agroindustrial works with more than 120 partner producers in São Paulo, representing about 34,000 hectares planted. Nutoil states that it is Brazil’s largest peanut exporter when raw peanut kernels and crude peanut oil are counted together. Other players include Santa Helena, MGV Agroindustrial and Jazam Peanuts.

Which products are you competing with?

Groundnuts are relatively unique in terms of taste, composition, aroma and price point. Direct competition in the European market mainly comes from nuts and seeds. The most important substitutes are almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds. However, groundnuts are much cheaper in comparison and are very resilient to competition. 

With increased consumer interest in groundnuts as a plant-based protein source, there is competition from other products. Again, groundnuts are very affordable. There is some competition from soy as a protein source. However, soy does not offer the very attractive peanut flavour that is attractive to consumers. 

4. What are the prices of groundnuts on the European market?

Prices for groundnuts in Europe vary by country, brand, pack size and product type. Low cost roasted and salted private-label peanuts can sell for about €2.30–3.50/kg, while branded products sell at higher prices. For example, Dutch retailer Albert Heijn sells 500 g of own-label salted peanuts at €2.30/kg, while Carrefour lists own-label classic roasted and salted peanuts at €3.50/kg.

Import prices are much lower than retail prices because groundnuts are often roasted, salted, packed, tested, stored, marketed and distributed after import. The World Bank benchmark for groundnuts was €1,062/tonne in March 2026, based on US 40/50 runners, CFR North-West Europe. This is well below the much higher annual averages seen in 2023 and 2024, and below the average price of €1,147/t in 2025. 

Figure 8 shows an indicative retail price breakdown for packed groundnuts. The imported raw groundnut value can account for about half of the final retail price in lower cost products. The rest is made up of shipment, processing, packing, wholesale and retail costs.

Source: Autentika Global, 2026

Autentika Global carried out this study on behalf of CBI.

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