Top Brazil Nut Producing Countries

The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is primarily harvested from wild trees in the Amazon rainforest, with Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru being the top producing countries. Historically, Brazil nut harvesting has not involved traditional farming or plantation agriculture; instead, it relies on gathering nuts from naturally occurring trees in the forest. This practice dates back centuries, with indigenous peoples of the Amazon sustainably collecting Brazil nuts long before European contact. Commercial export began in the 19th century, particularly from Brazil, but over time, Bolivia has emerged as the leading exporter due to its extensive wild stands and organized collection systems. Efforts to cultivate Brazil nut trees in plantations have largely been unsuccessful, as the trees rely on complex rainforest ecology and specific pollinators to produce nuts. Thus, Brazil nut "farming" remains unique among major crops, rooted in wild harvest rather than domesticated agriculture, with Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru at the forefront of global production.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat