Frigam S.L. - Spain Pine Nut Importer Company

Bill of Lading Data: Siberian Pine Nut Shipment from Russia to Spain

The bill of lading data presented here documents a significant commercial transaction between a Russian pine nut supplier and a Spanish food products importer. On January 11, 2023, OOO Sibkedr (a Russian company specializing in Siberian pine nut processing) shipped 20,000 kilograms (20 metric tons) of shelled Siberian pine nuts (Pinus Sibirica) to Frigam S.L. in Spain. The total transaction value of EUR 333,045.85 implies a unit price of approximately EUR 16.65 per kilogram, which reflects the premium pricing typical of shelled Siberian pine nuts in the European market. The product was specifically described as not being seed material, confirming its classification as food-grade pine nuts for human consumption.

The shipment logistics are noteworthy for their scale and packaging. The 20 metric tons of pine nuts were packed in 20 big bags (FIBCs - Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers) of 1,000 kg each, which were then placed on 20 pallets with a combined pallet weight of 560 kg. This bulk packaging method is standard for industrial-scale pine nut shipments, as it minimizes handling costs, reduces the risk of contamination, and is well-suited for both maritime shipping and warehouse storage. The product description specifically identifies the pine nuts as Siberian cedar pine nuts (Pinus Sibirica), which are distinct from the more commonly known Mediterranean stone pine nuts (Pinus pinea) that are native to Spain itself.

The trade lane from Russia to Spain for Siberian pine nuts typically involves overland transport from the Siberian processing facilities to a Russian Black Sea or Baltic port, followed by maritime shipping to a Spanish port. This route covers considerable distances and may involve transshipment at intermediate hubs. The absence of specific port information in the sample data is typical of commercial bill of lading records shared in trade intelligence databases, where certain logistics details may be redacted for competitive or privacy reasons. The HS code 0802920000 used in this transaction is the 10-digit Russian tariff code for shelled pine nuts, which aligns with the international 6-digit code 080292 used by most customs authorities worldwide.

Frigam S.L.: Company Profile

Frigam S.L. is a Spanish limited liability company (Sociedad Limitada) that operates at the intersection of food product manufacturing and international import-wholesale trade. Registered under Spanish tax identification number (CIF) B32168700 and classified under CNAE code 10 (Manufacture of Food Products), the company is headquartered in the rural municipality of San Cristovo de Cea in the province of Ourense, within the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. The company's physical address is located at Carretera N-525, kilometer 257, in the locality of Ermida (postal code 32141). This location in inland Galicia provides strategic access to both Atlantic port facilities and the broader European road transport network.

Frigam S.L. operates commercially under the Silvestris brand, with the company name appearing as Silvestris-Frigam in certain trade databases and online platforms. The brand identity reflects the company's specialization in wild-harvested natural food products -- silvestris being the Latin word for wild or of the forest. According to the Kompass business directory, Frigam S.L. is engaged in wholesale trade with import sourcing from South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, specifically mentioning Argentina, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Romania, and the Russian Federation as supply areas. The company's export activities are directed toward Western European markets, indicating its role as both an importer and re-exporter of food commodities.

The company's import portfolio extends beyond pine nuts to encompass a diverse range of food products. According to global shipment tracking data, Frigam S.L. has been recorded in at least 10 import shipments, with Turkey and Russia identified as the top sourcing countries. This suggests a product range that likely includes Turkish-origin products such as dried fruits, nuts, and spices alongside Russian-origin products such as Siberian pine nuts and potentially wild mushrooms or berries. The company's location in Galicia, a region known for its strong tradition of wild mushroom harvesting and food processing, provides a natural fit for its business focus on wild and natural food products. The contact email info@silvestris.es and the associated Twitter handle @setassilvestre further reinforce the company's branding around wild forest products.

Siberian Pine Nuts: The Russian Pine Nut Industry

Siberian pine nuts (Pinus Sibirica) represent a unique and valuable commodity in the global nuts trade. Harvested from the cones of the Siberian cedar pine tree -- which is not actually a cedar but a species of pine native to the vast Siberian taiga forests -- these small, teardrop-shaped kernels are prized for their sweet, buttery flavor and exceptional nutritional profile. Russia is the world's dominant producer and exporter of Siberian pine nuts, with the harvest concentrated in the regions of Altai, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, and Tomsk. The annual harvest is highly variable, ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 metric tons of nuts in shell, depending on the natural yield cycle which typically follows a 3 to 5 year pattern. Pine nuts are the only nut produced in commercially significant volumes in Russia, making them a strategic export commodity.

The processing of Siberian pine nuts is a multi-stage operation that begins with the collection of pine cones from the forest floor (often by local harvesters in remote taiga areas), followed by drying, cone shelling, nut sorting, and finally the labor-intensive kernel extraction process. Modern Russian pine nut processors like OOO Sibkedr operate specialized shelling facilities that can process over 2,000 metric tons of raw material annually, producing approximately 800+ metric tons of shelled kernels. The shelling rate -- the ratio of kernel weight to total nut weight -- for Siberian pine nuts is approximately 35-43%, meaning that producing 20,000 kg of shelled kernels (as in the Frigam S.L. shipment) requires approximately 46,000 to 57,000 kg of nuts in shell. The unit price of EUR 16.65/kg for shelled Siberian pine nuts in this transaction is consistent with European market pricing for premium-quality, food-grade Siberian pine nut kernels.

The Russian pine nut industry faces several structural challenges, including the remote location of harvesting areas, seasonal variability in cone yields, the need for significant capital investment in processing equipment, and complex logistics for transporting products to international markets. Despite these challenges, growing global demand for pine nuts -- driven by their use in Mediterranean cuisine, Asian cooking, the baking industry, and the premium healthy snack segment -- has sustained strong export performance. Russian pine nut exporters typically ship via the Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk or the Baltic ports of St. Petersburg, with China, Turkey, and the European Union being the primary destination markets. The trade data documenting Frigam S.L.'s purchase from OOO Sibkedr illustrates the Russia-to-EU supply chain that represents a significant and growing segment of the global pine nut trade.

Spain's Pine Nut Market: A Dual Role as Importer and Exporter

Spain occupies a unique and strategically important position in the global pine nut market, serving simultaneously as a significant importer and a major exporter of pine nuts. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Spain imported EUR 20.7 million worth of shelled pine nuts under HS code 080292, making it the 2,068th most imported product out of 5,591 product categories in Spanish trade. Tridge market data places Spain as the 6th largest importer of raw pine nuts globally by volume, with approximately 1,679,933 kg imported in 2024. At the same time, Spain ranks as the 10th largest pine nut exporter globally, with exports valued at approximately USD 27.68 million (representing 5,108 tonnes) in 2021, reflecting Spain's own significant domestic production of Mediterranean stone pine nuts.

Spain's domestic pine nut production is centered in the Castilla y Leon region, particularly around the town of Pedrajas de San Esteban in the province of Valladolid, which is often described as the pine nut capital of Spain and one of the most important pine nut producing areas in the world. The Mediterranean stone pine (Pinus pinea) has been cultivated in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries, and Spanish stone pine nuts are considered among the finest in the world, commanding premium prices in international markets. However, domestic production is insufficient to meet Spain's total demand, necessitating significant imports -- particularly of Siberian pine nuts from Russia, which serve as a lower-cost alternative to domestic stone pine nuts in many food processing and retail applications.

The Spanish pine nut market is characterized by a dual-product structure. On one hand, premium Mediterranean pine nuts (Pinus pinea) from domestic production are marketed as a high-end gourmet product, often sold directly to consumers, bakeries, and restaurants. On the other hand, imported Siberian pine nuts (Pinus Sibirica) serve the price-sensitive segment of the market, including industrial food manufacturers, bulk-pack retailers, and the hospitality sector. Companies like Frigam S.L. play an important role in this market by importing Siberian pine nuts in bulk quantities and distributing them to the Spanish food industry, thereby bridging the gap between Russian pine nut producers and European end consumers. The price differential between the two pine nut species is significant, with Siberian pine nuts typically priced at 30-50% below Mediterranean stone pine nuts.

Spain Pine Nut Importers: Key Companies and Buyers

Spain's pine nut import market is served by a mix of specialized nut importers, food product manufacturers, and trading companies that source pine nuts from multiple international origins. The table below presents a selection of known Spanish pine nut importers and companies active in the pine nut supply chain. It is important to note that the complete contact information, full import volumes, and detailed commercial terms for these companies are considered commercial data and are available through paid trade intelligence platforms such as Trademo, Eximpedia, Volza, Seair, and Dun and Bradstreet. The information presented here is based on publicly available sources and trade database summaries.

The Spanish pine nut import sector is characterized by a relatively small number of specialized companies handling large volumes, alongside a larger number of smaller traders and distributors. The total value of Spain's shelled pine nut imports (EUR 20.7 million) is distributed among an unknown number of active importers, but trade data suggests that the top 10-15 companies account for the majority of import volumes. The market is seasonal, with demand typically peaking in the autumn months ahead of the holiday season when pine nuts are widely used in traditional Spanish sweets (turrones, polvorones), gourmet cooking, and gift baskets. Importers must carefully manage their supply chains to ensure adequate stock levels during peak demand periods, as the Siberian pine nut harvest in Russia typically occurs in September-October and processing and shipping to Spain may take an additional 2-4 months.

HS Code 080292: Classification and Tariff Details

Pine nuts are classified under Chapter 08 of the Harmonized System, which covers edible fruits and nuts. The specific classification for shelled pine nuts is HS code 080292 at the 6-digit international level. In some national tariff schedules, this is extended to 8 or 10 digits: 0802 90 00 00 in the EU Combined Nomenclature, or 0802920000 in the Russian and Chinese tariff systems. The distinction between shelled pine nuts (080292) and pine nuts in shell (080291) is critically important for customs purposes, as the two categories may attract different duty rates and are subject to different phytosanitary and food safety requirements. Shelled pine nuts, being a processed product, are generally subject to more stringent quality controls and documentation requirements compared to in-shell nuts.

Within the EU, including Spain, the import of shelled pine nuts (CN code 0802 90 00 00) is subject to the EU's common customs tariff, which generally sets a duty-free rate for pine nuts. However, all pine nut imports must comply with EU food safety regulations, including Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (including aflatoxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues), and the General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. Importers must also ensure compliance with the EU's phytosanitary requirements and may need to provide certificates of origin, health certificates, and documentary evidence of compliance with food safety standards. The specific product description in the Frigam S.L. bill of lading explicitly states that the pine nuts are not seed material, which is relevant for customs classification as it confirms the product's intended use as food rather than for planting.

European Union Pine Nut Market: Record Demand in 2025

The European Union pine nut market has experienced a remarkable surge in demand, with imports reaching unprecedented levels in early 2025. According to Mundus Agri, EU shelled pine nut imports exceeded 3,000 metric tons in the first quarter of 2025 -- the first time this threshold has been crossed in a single quarter. More significantly, the total value of EU pine nut imports rose by 18% compared to the same period in the previous year, reaching a record EUR 115 million. This combination of rising volumes and rising values indicates strong demand that is not being met by increased supply, suggesting upward price pressure in the European pine nut market.

The EU is the world's largest destination market for pine nuts, with major importing countries including Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom (the latter still significant post-Brexit). The primary supply origins for EU pine nut imports are diverse: China and Russia are the largest suppliers of shelled pine nuts (predominantly from Pinus koraiensis and Pinus sibirica species respectively), while Turkey, Pakistan, and North Korea also contribute significant volumes. Mediterranean pine nuts (Pinus pinea) from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey occupy the premium segment and are typically sold at significantly higher prices than Asian or Siberian pine nuts. The coexistence of multiple pine nut species in the EU market creates a complex pricing environment where quality, origin, and species all influence market value.

The record EU import levels in 2025 reflect several converging demand drivers. Growing consumer awareness of the nutritional benefits of pine nuts -- including their high content of monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants -- has expanded the market beyond traditional Mediterranean cuisine into the mainstream health food and premium snack segments. The plant-based food trend has also benefited pine nuts, as they are increasingly used as an ingredient in vegan cheeses, pesto sauces, and plant-based protein products. For Spanish importers like Frigam S.L., the strong EU demand creates both opportunities (higher potential selling prices and market growth) and challenges (increased competition for supply, higher procurement costs, and the need for reliable sourcing partnerships with Russian and other origin suppliers). The trade data indicates that despite record import spending, EU buyers remain actively engaged in the market, suggesting confidence in sustained demand growth.

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