Free of charge

Almonds: downturn in exports

January 23, 2024 at 9:36 AM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

MADRID/SACRAMENTO. Suppliers are struggling with prolonged drought conditions in Spain and exports are thriving for almonds in California.

Downbeat mood prevails in Spain

At 15,061 mt monthly exports from Spain were still rather disappointing in November. They ranged 3% lower than the 15,571 mt registered in November 2022. Total exports are almost lagging 8% behind last year. Shipments to nearly all top ten destinations are down, with the noted exceptions of the Netherlands and Austria. Issue is that the crop was much smaller than expected as the hot weather in spring and summer coupled with a lack of rain caused production to range as low as 90,000-100,000 mt. With Spain suffering from prolonged drought the prospects for 2024 are far from encouraging. Suppliers have, in addition, repeatedly emphasised that low prices are failing to attract buyers this season.

Almond exports, Spain (in mt)

Destination

2022/23

2023/24

Diff

France

12,480

11,344

-9.1%

Germany

12,785

11,001

-14.0%

Italy

9,706

9,152

-5.7%

Portugal

2,356

2,162

-8.2%

UK

2,178

1,874

-14.0%

Netherlands

1,349

1,703

26.2%

Poland

1,719

1,530

-11.0%

Belgium

1,662

1,365

-17.9%

Switzerland

1,059

1,005

-5.1%

Austria

662

875

32.2%

Others

9,556

9,251

-3.2%

Total

55,512

51,262

-7.7%

Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Spain, 01/08-30/11

Upbeat exports in California

December was, by contrast, strong in California. At 229 million pounds monthly shipments rose to the second highest December on record, mainly driven by exports. Domestic demand has also revived. Suppliers reckon that demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Crop estimates currently range at 2.3-2.4 billion pounds as the crop was late to arrive and farmers had to struggle with a wet season. Good news is that reservoirs can still draw on last year’s abundant water supplies. Yet, the market is monitoring forecasts very carefully as the winter turned out to be more on the dry side until the end of December. Expectation is that storms and snowpack may improve water supplies in January. With the bloom period starting in February first assessments of the 2024 crop will be issued in a few weeks.

 

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

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Nuts
Nov 10, 2025
NAIROBI/CAPE TOWN. While growers in Kenya are calling for the export ban on raw macadamias to be eased, South African farmers must be careful not to become too dependent on exports to China. EU macadamia imports have risen significantly in 2025.
Nuts
Nov 6, 2025
MADRID. Spanish almond farmers are disappointed with the yields from the current crop. At the same time, exports got off to a strong start this season. Compared with the same period last year, Spain's almond exports rose by 64%.
Nuts
Nov 6, 2025
SACRAMENTO/ATHENS. Low carry-over stocks led to a weak start to the US walnut season. September exports declined by 32%. There were massive slumps in shipments to Germany, among other countries.
Nuts
Nov 5, 2025
ORDU/SALEM. High prices and low availability have caused Turkey's hazelnut exports to more than halve compared to the same period last year. The outlook in the US is much more positive.