News Archive

News Archive

USDA November Cold Storage Holdings the lowest in 13 years

December 22, 2023

While I expect that few people will be reading this until later next week or early in the New Year, I felt that it would be nice to remind our industry of some of its recent history. Earlier this week I received a call from a Sheller that has been around for a lot longer than me.

USDA NASS Releases December US Pecan Crop Estimate

December 13, 2023

 On December 8th, the USDA NASS released their December Crop Production Report.  While their estimate of the crop showed a slight increase (251.5 million vs 248 million) in projected production over their October release, all available data continues to indicate that the industry is operating with the shortest supply since 2016. Based on currently available information, the North American supply situation shapes up as follows:

The US Pecan Industry is Throwing Away One Billion Dollars

November 29, 2023

In December 2016, for only the second time in the history of the pecan industry, prices for both Fancy Jr Mammoth Halves and Fancy Medium Pieces topped the $7 per pound mark.  By the end of the month, prices had set a new record topping $7.15/lb for both items. At that time, the total available supply to US Shellers was 642 million pounds with a carry in of 129 million pounds. Today, the total available supply is 615 million pounds with a carry in of 124 mil

USDA Publishes Long Awaited Proposal to Revise Both Inshell and Shelled Pecan Standards

October 25, 2023

On October 11, the USDA published the long awaited proposal to revise both the inshell and shelled pecan standards,  It is the first major revision to the standards since their initial publishing in July 1969.  There are several major changes.  They are as follows:

  1. The old kernel standard had two grades, US #1 and Commercial Grade. Both have been eliminated.

September Cold Storage Holding Confirm Shortest Supply Since 2016

October 25, 2023

The USDA NASS released the September Cold Storage Holdings today, and as expected, the carry out will be the smallest since 2016. Based on the smaller than expected crop projections, overall supply will be approximately 8% less than a year ago. 

USDA Projects a US Crop 11% Smaller than 2022

October 12, 2023

The USDA surprised the industry today when they released the first of their 2023 US pecan crop estimates.  Based on their surveys, they are projecting a crop of only 248 million pounds, down 11 percent from 2022 (277.7 million pounds), and other than 2018, the smallest crop since 2008. Based on the smaller than normal carry out, and other currently available data, the domestic supply situation shapes up as follows:

National Pecan Shellers Association releases their 2023 US Crop Estimate

September 22, 2023

The National Pecan Sheller’s Association closed their 2023 annual meeting projecting a 2023 pecan crop of 303.1 million pounds (inshell basis).  Averaging the three major pre-harvest industry crop projections (Tri-State Grower estimate, the Texas Pecan Grower estimate and the National Pecan Sheller’s Association estimate), all of which were very close, the US is projected to have a crop of approximately 306.7 million pounds (inshell basis).  While this is slightly higher than the 2022 crop (approximately 10%), increased domestic consumption will result in the lowest car

Beware of Stanger's Bearing Gifts

August 28, 2023

On July 31st, the USDA FAS, as well as US Customs, concluded the 2022/2023 import/export year.  While FAS will not publish their final figures until early September, US Customs data indicated that Mexico exported the same amount of pecans to the US as they did in 2021.  Therefore, based on currently available data, the supply available to US marketers shapes up as follows:

USDA May Cold Storage Figures Continue to Lag Behind 2022 Levels

June 23, 2023

Today’s release by USDA NASS of the May Cold Storage Holdings continues to show a significantly lower inventory.  Based on current consumption, the industry could carry out well below 120 million pounds come September 30.  Even with the Tri-State Grower estimate of a 322 million pound 2023 crop, supplies will remain tight well into the fall.

USDA Releases Final 2022 US Crop Figure and China Decides to Discontinue their Pecan Program

May 26, 2023

For those of you who may have missed it, on May 8, 2023, the USDA published the final 2022 Pecan Crop Figures.  Based on their survey, the US Crop was 277.7 million inshell pounds based on 409,000 bearing acres.  Of the total, improved varieties accounted for approximately 270.7 million pounds at an average price of $1.82/lb.  The average price paid for natives was $1.19/lb which moved the overall price slightly lower to $1.80/lb.  Being only slightly larger than their January preliminary figure of 275 million pounds, the release should have little or no impact on the market. 

March Cold Storage Holding the Lowest Since 2012

May 01, 2023

As several others have pointed out, last week’s release of the March Cold Storage figures only confirms the fact that the industry is dealing with a severe supply shortage.

January Cold Storage Figures Lowest in over Ten Years

March 03, 2023

While the laws of supply and demand generally dictate market pricing, that is not always the case.  Geo-political issues, natural disasters and other unrelated issues often act to undermine the market.  Such is the case with the current pecan market.  Inflation, high interest rates, the War in Ukraine, logistics problems, etc., have all served to undermine the market even though, unlike the almond and walnut industries, there is a shortage of pecans.  On February 23rd, the USDA released the January Cold Storage figures.  Looking at the supply situation a little differently, i.e.

USDA Reduces 2022 Crop Estimate, Imports Continue to Lag

January 27, 2023

In the past week, the USDA has released two sets of numbers that shed a little more light on the pecan market.  On January 19th, USDA NASS released their preliminary 2022 crop year pecan production report forecasting a slightly smaller crop than projected in December.  At 275 million pounds (inshell basis), the crop is forecast to be approximately 8% larger than the 2021 crop.  However, overall supply is down 11.2% over the same period and 13.4% over 2020’s record supply.