Shelled Raw Peanut Monthly Update 2026-02

Brazilian exports of shelled peanuts reached a record high in 2025, exceeding 311 thousand tons, a 37% increase over 2024's 227 thousand tons, according to the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA-APTA). Export value also rose slightly to US$367 million from US$360 million in 2024. Russia remained the largest buyer with 22% of shelled peanut imports, followed by China at 20%, which also dominated crude peanut oil imports, accounting for 88% of the 154 thousand tons exported in 2025. Domestic peanut production in São Paulo grew over 50% in the 2024/25 crop season, despite a 30% reduction in planted area. The 2025/26 crop harvest is underway with expectations of improved productivity and quality due to favorable climatic conditions.

The USDA reports a 26% increase in total U.S. peanut stocks to 5.51 billion pounds in 2025 compared to 2024, with shelled peanuts rising 44%. This growing surplus coincides with declining demand across key peanut product categories such as peanut butter, candy, and snacks, leading to slower market movement. The oversupply is pressuring peanut prices and limiting contract opportunities for growers, who are increasingly reliant on the federal loan program set at $390 per ton. Industry experts emphasize that profitability will require stronger domestic and export demand to reduce inventories and support prices in the coming year.

Pelayo Agronomía SA, a family-owned company managing 73,000 hectares across four Argentine provinces, is pioneering sustainable agricultural leasing by promoting contracts longer than 12 months combined with rigorous soil health monitoring. To combat soil deterioration linked to short-term fixed-quintal leases, the company partners with AGSUS to certify soil quality and carbon sequestration, currently covering 20% of its leased fields. Their approach integrates agronomic best practices, transparency through objective data reporting to landowners, and diversified land use including mixed crop and livestock systems. Sunflower production under this model has achieved ISCC Plus certification, enabling sales to environmentally and socially conscious buyers like PepsiCo. Pelayo Agronomía aims to expand certified acreage and foster long-term, mutually beneficial agreements that maintain or improve soil fertility and support sustainable production.

Ghana's government has postponed the rollout of its 24-Hour Economy policy to conduct extensive nationwide consultations, ensuring the initiative aligns with regional economic strengths. The policy includes region-specific agri-food interventions, such as groundnut processing in the Upper West millet corridor and the Integrated Rice Corridor in the North East, aimed at enhancing local agricultural productivity. This long-term framework is expected to create jobs and significantly transform Ghana's agri-food sector and overall economic landscape.

India's interim trade framework with the US has been designed to fully safeguard the interests of Indian farmers and small producers, with key sensitive agricultural products exempted from tariff concessions. Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that no genetically modified goods, meat, poultry, dairy, soybean, maize, rice, sugarcane, millets, or certain fruits and pulses are included in the deal, ensuring protection for domestic agriculture. The agreement also excludes oilseeds, groundnuts, honey, malt products, and other items critical to farmers. Despite opposition claims that the deal favors US agricultural exports and threatens Indian farmers, the government maintains that the pact will not harm the agri-food sector. The deal includes a significant reduction in US tariffs on Indian goods and commits India to purchasing $500 billion in American energy, technology, and aircraft over five years, while reducing tariffs on select US agricultural products such as tree nuts and soybean oil.

Ghana's John Mahama administration has launched an ambitious Agro-Industrial Corridors initiative aimed at modernizing agriculture, boosting productivity, and enhancing market access. The plan includes three key corridors: the Cassava Industrial Corridor along Volta Lake, focusing on ethanol, starch, and flour production; the Integrated Agro Corridor in the Northern Belt, targeting soy, groundnut, maize, and millet to support poultry and livestock feed production; and the Integrated Rice Corridor in Tono, Pwalugu, and Kpong, designed to increase rice self-sufficiency and reduce import dependence. These corridors integrate value chain development with guaranteed markets and processing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and promote export growth. The initiative aims to strengthen food security, reduce import reliance, and position Ghana as a regional leader in agricultural innovation and agro-industrial exports.

The Central Union of Peanut Producers in Turkey, led by Faruk Akbaş, has called for an end to peanut imports, citing severe market disruptions and price declines harming local farmers. Despite Şanlıurfa producing the world's highest quality peanuts, imported low-quality peanuts now constitute 35% of consumption, saturating the market and leaving domestic peanuts unsold. Prices for raw shelled peanuts plummeted from 350 liras to 170-180 liras in 2024, forcing some farmers to sell at a loss. Although prices briefly improved in early 2025, the influx of imports caused market stagnation, preventing farmers from investing in essential equipment and inputs. Akbaş emphasized that imports have not lowered consumer prices and stressed the need to close import gates to support local producers and sustain the domestic peanut industry.