Peanuts and edible seeds

Provides specifications for safety, defect limits, and packaging requirements for peanuts intended for human consumption.

Codex Alimentarius Standard (CXS 200-1995)

Defines grade specifications, screen size, and tolerance limits for shelled Virginia type peanuts.

U.S. Federal Standards (21 CFR Part 51, Subpart EE)

Pods containing no kernels; limit 3% m/m.

Empty pods

Includes shrivelled, cracked, or broken pods; limit 10% m/m.

Damaged pods

Pods with dark discoloration affecting 50% or more of the surface; limit 2% m/m.

Discoloured pods

Includes freezing injury, shrivelled kernels, insect damage, and mechanical damage; overall limit 1% m/m.

Damaged kernels

Peanuts are used as ingredients in confectionery, bakery products, and snack foods, driving demand from food manufacturers.

Food processing

Peanuts are pressed to produce edible oil, creating demand from oil processors.

Oil production

Defatted peanut meal is utilized in livestock feed, supporting demand from the feed industry.

Animal feed

Used as ingredient in ready‑to‑eat snack mixes and coated peanuts

Snack foods

Ingredient in candy bars, chocolate coatings and nougat

Confectionery

Added to breads, cookies and pastries for texture and flavor

Bakery products

Ground to produce smooth or crunchy peanut butter

Peanut butter production

U.S. Extra Large Virginia peanuts must not pass through a screen having 20/64 × 1 inch openings.

Screen size

The lot shall average not more than 512 kernels per pound.

Count per pound

Packaging must be sound, clean, dry, and free from insect infestation or fungal contamination to safeguard hygienic and organoleptic qualities.

Clean, dry bulk bags

Blanched peanuts

Blanched peanuts can develop aflatoxins if harvested or stored under high humidity and temperature, posing serious health risks and leading to product rejection.

Aflatoxin contamination

Peanut crops are sensitive to water stress; prolonged drought can lower yields and affect the availability of blanched peanuts.

Drought‑related yield reduction

Stored blanched peanuts are susceptible to insects such as the tobacco beetle, which can damage product quality and cause losses.

Storage insect infestation

Bulk shipments of blanched peanuts may experience delays at major export ports, impacting delivery schedules.

Transportation delays due to port congestion

Blanched peanuts are peanuts that have been boiled briefly and had their skins removed, then typically dried for storage. They are used as a ready‑to‑eat snack and as an ingredient in confectionery, bakery products, and spreads.

Month	Exports	Imports
Dec 2024	$69.8M	$413K
Nov 2024	$67.7M	$195K
Oct 2024	$65.3M	$417K
Sep 2024	$46.2M	$439K
Aug 2024	$44M	$607K
Jul 2024	$46M	$368K
Jun 2024	$51.1M	$488K
May 2024	$48.4M	$281K
Apr 2024	$61.1M	$403K
Mar 2024	$64.1M	$370K
Feb 2024	$55.4M	$60.3K
Jan 2024	$86.4M	$229K

China Blanched Peanuts Exports and Imports

Monthly Trade Values