Australian almond exporters have capitalized on a robust demand from China, alongside a high-yield harvest, marking a prosperous season. Unlike China, other nations have reported a decrease in imports. July saw Australian almond exports surge by 35.3% year-on-year, reaching 20,139 mt, setting a new record for the month. The total shipments, both domestic and international, also experienced a growth of 33.8%, amounting to 22,450 mt. This increase was largely fueled by shipments to China, which in July 2024, hit 12,055 mt, marking an impressive 113.4% rise from the previous year. Other countries like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates saw increases in imports, while nations such as India, Vietnam, Germany, and Spain observed declines.
The season has witnessed record-breaking export figures, with a total of 70,990 mt of almonds shipped both domestically and internationally between March and July 2024, a 16.2% increase from the previous year. The export volume notably rose by 19.2% to 60,803 mt, with China being the largest recipient. Despite this overall growth, the Almond Board of Australia reports a slowdown in new acreage development, attributing it to higher production costs and lower yields. Currently, around 22 million almond trees are cultivated across 64,192 ha in Australia, with significant portions located in Victoria's Sunraysia region and New South Wales' Riverina region. Predictions for the 2025 almond crop are premature, as the trees are in the early stages of development, but this year's crop is estimated at 164,700 mt.
Source: Mundus Agri