U.S. pistachios have become increasingly popular in China. Particularly in the past two years after Iran, China’s traditional supplier, suffered a drought and cold spell that damaged the crop and U.S. exports filled in the gap. China has become the fastest-growing export market for U.S. pistachios as food safety becomes more important an issue for consumers. In 2004 the value of U.S. pistachio exports to China was US$5 million – today it is US$105 million and a full 35% of the U.S. crop is shipped to China. Overall agricultural exports to Hong Kong have experienced double digit rates of growth since 2008 and have increased 32% in the past year alone.
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