Dubai Chocolate Frenzy Causes Global Pistachio Shortage, 35% Price Rise

The price of pistachio kernels has increased from $7.65 to $10.30 per pound in a year, an increase of about 35%.

A representative of the British company CG Hacking noted that the situation was exacerbated by the low pistachio yield in the United States, the world's largest exporter, last year. At the same time, the nuts harvested in 2024 were of high quality, which limited the availability of cheap unpeeled kernels traditionally used in the food industry.

The popularity of "Dubai chocolate", which includes kataifi dough, pistachio paste and milk chocolate, has led to a surge in retail demand, especially in the Gulf countries, Europe and Southeast Asia. Some retailers were forced to introduce purchase limits, limiting the number of chocolate bars per customer.

The viral popularity of the dessert was provoked by mass reviews by bloggers and influencers in the summer of 2024. The case is one of the clearest examples of how digital trends can impact international supply chains and pricing in the agri-food sector.