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Almonds: Australia breaks export record

February 8, 2023 at 2:52 PM , Der AUDITOR
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CANBERRA/MADRID. Last year, Australia was able to achieve the best November exports ever, and overall, the current season seems to be developing into a record year for Australia's almond industry. Growers in Spain, however, are less satisfied.

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

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

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price chart, almonds, natural, +14, Valencia
price chart, almonds, natural 13/14, Largueta
price chart, almonds, blanched, 27/30, California SSR
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price chart almonds, natural, 12-14 mm, Valencia
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price chart almonds, natural, 27-30, California SSR

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