<p>Both demand and consumption of dried fruits and nuts have increased globally, according to the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), in Reus, Tarragona (Spain).According to efeagro.com, figures from the INC show in Spain alone, consumption of dried fruits and nuts increased 33 per cent compared to 2013.The worldwide value of dried fruits in port surpassed €26.7 billion, a 53 per cent increase compared to five years ago.The United States is the top producer of dried fruits (1.1 million tonnes in 2015), followed by Turkey, China and Iran. Spain is the ninth-largest producer with 64,500 tonnes, a figure that has increased by 6 per cent in the last decade.<br></p>