BEIJING: As China’s demand for high-quality and nutritious food products continues to grow, Pakistani pine nuts are emerging as a promising export with significant market potential. Harvested from the pristine mountainous regions of northern Pakistan, these premium nuts are renowned for their rich flavor, high nutritional value, and natural cultivation methods. Despite their superior quality and geographical proximity to China, Pakistani pine nuts currently account for only a modest share of China’s rapidly expanding premium nut market.
Pakistan’s chilgoza (pine nut) forests are concentrated in North and South Waziristan, along with parts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Amjad Zarin, Associate Professor at Jilin International Studies University, North and South Waziristan contribute around 80–85 percent of the country’s total pine nut output. North Waziristan produces an estimated 1,700–2,000 metric tons annually, while South Waziristan adds 800–900 metric tons. Pakistan’s overall chilgoza production typically ranges between 2,100 and 2,900 metric tons per year, with higher yields possible under favorable weather conditions, he told media. Chinese demand for Pakistani pine nuts has surged over the past few years, driven by rising consumer interest in healthy snacks and premium imported food products.
According to data from The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), Pakistan’s pine nut exports to China nearly doubled between 2023 and 2025.
Abdul Mateen, CEO of AM Enterprises, told China Economic Net that his company has been exporting Pakistani pine nuts to China for the past 12 years. He noted that Chinese consumers highly prefer Pakistani chilgoza due to its thin shell, crispy texture, and mild flavor. According to traders, nearly 80–90 percent of Pakistan’s pine nut exports are now destined for the Chinese market, media reported on Tuesday. According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), Pakistan’s pine nut exports to China recorded robust growth between 2023 and 2025, with export volumes nearly doubling from 579.8 tons to 1,147 tons. –Agencies
