Almonds: Australia breaks export record
February 8, 2023 at 2:52 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
One record after the next
According to the latest data from the Almond Board of Australia, domestic shipments in November 2022 were 2,103 mt of shelled and unshelled almonds, up 5% from 2,004 mt in the same month last year. Overall, domestic demand between March and November was 18,831 mt, about 9% less than this time last year. Exports totalled 9,262 mt in November, a good third more than in the same month last year, the best result so far for this month and the fourth consecutive month with a new record.
A total of 86,402 mt of shelled and unshelled almonds were exported from Australia, bringing export volumes to the 2021/2022 season total after just nine months. The main customer for Australian almonds this season remains China with 47,107 mt, an increase of 47% compared to the same period last year. Shipments to Spain (+75%) and Turkey (+132%) have also increased significantly, while Germany's imports also picked up again (+9%). India can hold on to third place in the ranking, although shipments there have more than halved.
In total, 105,232 mt of shelled and unshelled almonds have been shipped domestically and overseas since the start of this season in March, compared to only 96,309 mt in the first nine months of the 2021/2022 season.
|
Australian almond* shipments, domestic and overseas, in mt |
|||
|
Destination |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
Diff. |
|
China |
32,005 |
47,107 |
47.2% |
|
Australia |
20,663 |
18,831 |
-8.9% |
|
India |
16,594 |
7,135 |
-57.0% |
|
Spain |
3,408 |
5,970 |
75.2% |
|
Vietnam |
5,486 |
5,220 |
-4.8% |
|
Turkey |
1,429 |
3,311 |
131.7% |
|
Germany |
2,746 |
2,990 |
8.9% |
|
UAE |
2,558 |
2,963 |
15.8% |
|
USA |
582 |
1,824 |
213.4% |
|
Thailand |
1,374 |
1,691 |
23.1% |
|
Others |
9,464 |
8,190 |
-13.5% |
|
Total |
96,309 |
105,232 |
9.3% |
|
Almond Board of Australia; Mar-Nov *shelled and unshelled |
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Spain's growers long for help
In Spain, meanwhile, the complaints of almond growers in many autonomous regions are growing louder, as LA UNIÓ reports. They are demanding direct aid from the Ministry of Agriculture and denounce the proposals that have been put forward so far in recent months. The problem is above all the massive increase in production costs, for which compensation is needed. In addition, there are production losses of up to 70%, with which the farmers in Valencia are left alone, while the local governments in Catalonia and Murcia, for example, have already reacted.
In Castilla-La Mancha, the longer-term plan is to replace ageing plantations with newer almond trees to ensure higher quality and more stable production. Up to 50,000 ha are under discussion, as the sector spokesperson for nuts in the agri-food sector confirmed after the last sector meeting. However, this also requires large subsidies, which so far have been delayed.
Encouraging prospects in California
From California, meanwhile, the experts from Blue Diamond Almonds report that the weather conditions shortly before flowering have developed differently than expected. La Niña conditions predicted a dry winter, but December and January saw some much-needed rainfall as well as snow in the Sierra Nevada, which is important for later irrigation. In some areas, the rains were even so heavy that they caused flooding and made work in the plantations much more difficult. Growers are also concerned about possible root diseases caused by the wetness. Meanwhile, bud development is progressing well and it seems that the flowering periods of the different varieties should overlap well.
|
Almonds |
||
|
Type |
EUR/kg |
USD/kg |
|
Valencia, 12/14 mm, natural, Spain |
4.30 |
4.62 |
|
Valencia, +14 mm, natural, Spain |
4.65 |
5.00 |
|
Largueta, 13/14 mm, natural Spain |
6.80 |
7.31 |
|
Largueta, 12/13 mm, natural, Spain |
6.50 |
6.99 |
|
California, standard, natural |
3.75 |
4.03 |
|
Almonds, blanched, diced, USA |
4.20 |
4.52 |
|
FCA Spain |
||
View more
- price chart, almonds, natural, +14, Valencia
- price chart, almonds, natural 13/14, Largueta
- price chart, almonds, blanched, 27/30, California SSR
- more price charts
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