Raw Materials
Fresh Nopal
Last Updated
2026-05-14
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- Dried Nopal market coverage spans 16 countries.
- 46 exporter companies and 43 importer companies are indexed in the global supply chain intelligence network for this product.
- 148 supplier-linked transactions are summarized across the top 3 countries.
- 0 premium suppliers and 0 catalog items are currently listed.
- Wholesale sample entries: 0; farmgate sample entries: 0.
- Page data last updated on 2026-05-14.
Global Supplier Transactions, Export Activity, and Price Benchmarks for Dried Nopal
Analyze 148 supplier-linked transactions across the top 3 countries, with monthly unit-price benchmarks to track export competitiveness and sourcing risk for Dried Nopal.
Dried Nopal Country YoY Change in Supplier Transactions and Export Momentum
Compare positive and negative YoY shifts in Dried Nopal to identify accelerating supplier markets and weakening export corridors.
Top YoY shifts for Dried Nopal: Mexico (+72.4%), Peru (-17.6%), United States (-2.2%).
Dried Nopal Country-Level Supplier Transaction and Unit Price Summary
As of 2025-06, benchmark Dried Nopal country transaction counts with monthly unit price and volume to prioritize supplier and export markets.
In 2025-11, countries with visible Dried Nopal transaction unit prices: Mexico (2.20 USD / kg), United States (1.31 USD / kg).
| Country | YoY Change | Transaction Count | 2025-06 | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | +72.4% | 77 | 5.51 USD / kg (5,495.8 kg) | 3.36 USD / kg (4,284.6 kg) | 3.97 USD / kg (48,628.8 kg) | 4.77 USD / kg (21,708.7 kg) | 3.71 USD / kg (6,921.2 kg) | 2.20 USD / kg (16,488 kg) | ||||||
| United States | -2.2% | 70 | 2.11 USD / kg (52,002 kg) | 2.11 USD / kg (69,815 kg) | 2.01 USD / kg (123,116 kg) | 1.58 USD / kg (29,619 kg) | 1.83 USD / kg (29,001 kg) | 1.31 USD / kg (32,442 kg) | ||||||
| Peru | -17.6% | 1 | 16.07 USD / kg (357.26 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) |
Dried Nopal Global Supply Chain Coverage
89 companies
46 exporters and 43 importers are mapped for Dried Nopal.
Exporters and importers can use Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to identify counterparties for Dried Nopal, benchmark reach, and prioritize outreach by market.
Dried Nopal Export Supplier Intelligence, Trade Flows, and Price Signals
46 exporter companies are mapped in Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence for Dried Nopal. Exporters and importers can use company profiles and analytics to evaluate supplier coverage, trading activity, and route opportunities.
Dried Nopal Top Exporters and Supplier Profiles
Review leading exporter profiles while benchmarking against 46 total exporter companies in the Dried Nopal supply chain intelligence network. Exporters and importers can unlock company profiles and analytics to qualify partners faster.
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 1M - 5M
Industries: Food PackagingFood ManufacturingFood WholesalersOthersBeverage Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: Farming / Production / Processing / PackingTradeLogisticsHORECARetailFood ManufacturingDistribution / Wholesale
Exporting Countries: Italy, United States
Supplying Products: Dried Nopal, Nopal Powder
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-11-12
Recently Export Partner Companies: 2
Industries: OthersFood Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: OthersFood Manufacturing
Exporting Countries: United States, Mexico
Supplying Products: Dried Nopal, Corn Tortilla Wrap, Tortilla Chips +5
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food PackagingFood Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFood Manufacturing
Exporting Countries: France
Supplying Products: Dried Nopal
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Export Partner Companies: 2
Industries: Crop ProductionBrokers And Trade Agencies
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleTrade
Exporting Countries: United States, Hong Kong
Supplying Products: Dried Nopal
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-10-23
Recently Export Partner Companies: 3
Industries: Crop ProductionFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Food ManufacturingDistribution / WholesaleFarming / Production / Processing / Packing
(Mexico)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Sales Revenue: USD 1M - 5M
Industries: Food Wholesalers
Value Chain Roles: TradeDistribution / Wholesale
Exporting Countries: United States
Supplying Products: Fresh Nopal, Dried Nopal, Fresh Scallion
Dried Nopal Global Exporter Coverage
46 companies
Exporter company count is a key signal for Dried Nopal supply depth and sourcing optionality.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics to narrow Dried Nopal opportunities by country, product, and value-chain role, then open company profiles to validate fit.
Dried Nopal Import Buyer Intelligence, Demand Signals, and Price Benchmarks
43 importer companies are mapped for Dried Nopal demand intelligence. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to prioritize buyers, distributors, and downstream demand partners by market.
Dried Nopal Top Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them against 43 total importer companies tracked for Dried Nopal. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate buyer quality and demand concentration.
(Italy)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 1 - 10 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Italy)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-08-07
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 50M - 100M
Industries: Food Wholesalers
Value Chain Roles: -
(United States)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 1M - 5M
Industries: OthersFood PackagingFood Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: -
(United States)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food WholesalersFood Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: -
(United States)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 1 - 10 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(United States)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-04-12
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: OthersFood Manufacturing
Value Chain Roles: -
Global Importer Coverage
43 companies
Importer company count highlights the current depth of demand-side visibility for Dried Nopal.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Dried Nopal buyers, compare partner density by country, and refine GTM priorities.
Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDried
Industry PositionValue-Added Agricultural Product
Market
Dried nopal (dehydrated cactus cladodes, commonly from Opuntia ficus-indica) is a niche but globally traded processed-vegetable product sold mainly as flakes/pieces and powder for culinary use and functional-food/supplement applications. Primary production and processing capacity is concentrated in Mexico, while Opuntia cultivation and ingredient supply also occurs in parts of the Mediterranean and North Africa (e.g., Italy and Tunisia). Key import demand is linked to North American, Japanese, and European markets, often supplied by Mexican processors and exporters. Because the product is shelf-stable, logistics are less constrained by cold chain than fresh nopal, but trade depends on consistent dehydration quality, moisture control, and buyer compliance for low-moisture foods.
Market GrowthMixedNiche growth tied to functional-ingredient and supplement positioning alongside ethnic-food demand; global totals are not consistently reported as a distinct category.
Major Producing Countries
- MexicoLeading producer and primary commercial supplier base for nopal/cladodes used as food ingredients and processed products.
- ItalyNotable Opuntia ficus-indica production (notably Sicily) supporting regional processing and specialty markets.
- TunisiaOpuntia cultivation used for multiple value chains (fodder/fruit), and also appears as an origin for organic nopal powder in supplement supply.
- MoroccoEstablished cactus pear cultivation base; potential raw material availability for derived products depending on domestic processing.
- BrazilOpuntia cultivation reported in scientific literature; commercialization pathways vary by region and end use.
- South AfricaOpuntia cultivation reported in scientific literature; relevance to dried nopal trade depends on processing and export orientation.
Major Exporting Countries
- MexicoCore export origin for dehydrated nopal products (powder/flakes), including shipments to the United States.
Major Importing Countries
- United StatesMajor destination market for Mexican nopal-based products across ethnic-food and functional-ingredient channels.
- CanadaImport demand linked to processed-ingredient and ethnic-food channels.
- JapanImport demand referenced in literature as part of Mexico’s export destinations for nopal/cladode products.
Supply Calendar
- Mexico:Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, DecCommercial supply can be positioned as year-round; dried formats reduce seasonality exposure compared with fresh distribution.
- Tunisia:Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCladode availability and use are often emphasized during summer/fall in semi-arid production systems.
Specification
Major VarietiesOpuntia ficus-indica (edible cladodes/nopalitos)
Physical Attributes
- Typically marketed as green dehydrated flakes/pieces or milled powder; color uniformity is a common buyer concern.
- Mucilage contributes viscosity/gel-like texture when rehydrated, influencing sensory performance in beverages and prepared foods.
Compositional Metrics
- Buyer specifications commonly include moisture/water activity limits (to manage caking and microbial risk), microbiological criteria for low-moisture foods, and contaminant limits (e.g., heavy metals) depending on end use.
- Powder products are often specified by particle size (mesh) and fiber-related positioning.
Grades
- Food-grade versus supplement-grade positioning (often linked to documentation, contaminant testing, and certification scope).
- Particle-size grades (flakes vs. coarse powder vs. fine powder) and foreign-matter tolerances are common commercial differentiators.
Packaging
- Moisture-barrier pouches or laminated bags for retail; bulk food-grade bags (often with inner liners) for industrial powder supply.
- Use of desiccants and strong seals is common to protect hygroscopic powders from humidity exposure.
ProcessingHygroscopic behavior (moisture pickup leading to clumping/caking) makes moisture control and packaging selection central to quality.Drying and milling steps can increase fine-particulate dust, requiring appropriate hygiene and foreign-matter controls.
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Cladode harvest -> de-spining/glochid removal -> washing/sanitation -> slicing/dicing -> dehydration (hot-air or equivalent) -> optional milling/sieving -> packaging -> ambient storage -> export distribution (ingredient or retail channels)
Demand Drivers
- Mexican and Latin American cuisine demand (ingredient use in prepared foods and pantry-stable formats).
- Functional-ingredient and supplement demand emphasizing fiber-rich plant materials and traditional dietary uses.
Temperature
- Generally shipped and stored as an ambient, dry product; heat and humidity management is critical to prevent condensation-driven quality loss and microbial risk after moisture uptake.
- Avoid temperature cycling that can drive moisture migration and caking in powders.
Atmosphere Control
- Oxygen- and moisture-barrier packaging is commonly used; some suppliers use inert-gas flushing or oxygen absorbers for powders to support shelf stability and reduce quality deterioration.
Shelf Life
- Shelf life is primarily driven by residual moisture/water activity and packaging integrity; humidity exposure can cause caking, discoloration, and increased spoilage risk even in dried products.
- Powder formats generally require tighter moisture control than flakes/pieces due to higher surface area.
Risks
Supply Concentration HighGlobal dried nopal supply is highly exposed to Mexico’s production and processing base; localized disruptions (weather extremes, phytosanitary events, or operational interruptions in key producing zones) can rapidly tighten export availability because alternative origins are smaller and less standardized for international ingredient trade.Qualify multiple suppliers (and, where feasible, multiple origins), maintain safety stock for critical SKUs, and set clear moisture/aw specifications with incoming inspection to reduce rework risk.
Pest And Disease MediumPests and diseases affecting Opuntia cladodes in major production zones can reduce yields and raise sorting losses, affecting raw material availability for dehydration and milling.Monitor origin-region phytosanitary alerts, require documented farm-level pest management practices, and diversify sourcing away from single micro-regions when possible.
Food Safety MediumAs a low-moisture food ingredient, dried nopal can still carry microbiological hazards if contaminated pre-drying or post-drying (e.g., during milling and packing), and it is also exposed to foreign-matter risk from field and processing steps.Implement HACCP-based controls, validated sanitation and drying parameters, environmental monitoring for dry facilities, and foreign-matter controls such as sieving and metal detection.
Regulatory Compliance MediumProducts positioned for functional or supplement uses can face regulatory scrutiny over health claims, labeling, and contaminant testing expectations that vary by market and channel.Align labeling and claims with destination-market rules, maintain COAs for contaminants and microbiology, and separate food versus supplement-grade documentation packages.
Quality Degradation LowMoisture ingress during storage and transit can cause caking, loss of flowability, and sensory changes that reduce usability in downstream formulations.Use moisture-barrier packaging with robust seals, include desiccants where appropriate, and control warehouse humidity and handling to avoid punctures and resealing failures.
Sustainability
- Climate variability in key producing regions (heat, drought, and extreme events) can affect cladode growth rates and processing throughput even for drought-adapted Opuntia systems.
- Land-restoration and soil-conservation positioning is common for Opuntia in drylands, but outcomes depend on local governance, water management, and pest control programs.
Labor & Social
- Smallholder participation and informal marketing are common in fresh nopal supply in Mexico; downstream processing/export programs may require traceability formalization to meet buyer expectations.
- Worker safety considerations in de-spining, cutting, and drying operations (sharp tools, glochids/spines, dust exposure in milling) can be material for compliance audits.
FAQ
What is dried nopal in global trade?Dried nopal is the dehydrated edible cactus pad (cladode), commonly from Opuntia ficus-indica, sold as flakes/pieces or milled powder for culinary use and for functional-ingredient or supplement formulations.
Which countries are most important for global dried nopal supply?Mexico is the central production and export base for nopal/cladode products, while Opuntia cultivation and niche ingredient sourcing also occurs in places such as Italy and Tunisia; other producing areas exist but are generally smaller for standardized export supply.
What is the single biggest global risk for dried nopal availability?The biggest risk is reliance on Mexico’s production and processing base, because localized disruptions there can quickly reduce exportable supply and there are fewer large-scale alternative origins with consistent export-grade processing.
Dried Nopal Country Coverage for Suppliers, Export Flows, and Prices
Explore country-level Dried Nopal market pages for supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks.
Mexico
United States
Netherlands
Canada
Germany
Switzerland
New Zealand
Austria
Czechia
Estonia
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
All country market pages: Mexico, United States, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria, Czechia, Estonia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, Peru, Venezuela
Related Dried Nopal Product Categories
Browse parent, sub, derived, and raw-material product market pages related to Dried Nopal.
Raw materials: Fresh Nopal
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