Almonds: US exports cannot keep up
March 15, 2022 at 2:29 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Total exports down by 20%
In February 2022, about 90,000 mt of shelled and unshelled US almonds were shipped domestically and overseas; this time last year, exports were 106,235 mt. While demand from overseas was weakening, at least domestic demand had remained stable in recent months. Now, however, domestic shipments also declined by 24% to 24,213 mt, and Germany, one of the top five buyers of US almonds, also reduced imports by a good quarter year-on-year to 4,985 mt. Shipments to China/Hong Kong are also steadily declining. In contrast, higher shipments in February were recorded to Spain (+13% to 9,514 mt), India (+2% to 9,189 mt) and the Netherlands (+51% to 4,972 mt).
For the season as a whole, domestic shipments fell by 3% to 201,910 mt and export volumes declined by a good 20% to 450,429 mt. Many large consumer countries significantly reduced their imports in a year-on-year comparison, with the reason being not only anticipatory purchases but also, above all, delivery delays due to a lack of supply capacities and labour shortages.
|
US almonds, export and domestic demand* in mt |
|||
|
Country |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
208,977 |
201,910 |
-3.4% |
|
India |
118,897 |
97,163 |
-18.3% |
|
Spain |
59,711 |
44,856 |
-24.9% |
|
China/Hong Kong |
57,100 |
41,432 |
-27.4% |
|
Germany |
35,688 |
26,970 |
-24.4% |
|
UAE |
33,008 |
26,612 |
-19.4% |
|
Japan |
21,309 |
23,676 |
11.1% |
|
Netherlands |
22,844 |
23,080 |
1.0% |
|
Italy |
25,037 |
20,449 |
-18.3% |
|
South Korea |
20,167 |
18,994 |
-5.8% |
|
Others |
173,938 |
127,198 |
-26.9% |
|
Total |
776,675 |
652,339 |
-16.0% |
|
Almond Board of California; Aug-Feb |
|||
Frost damage expected in the coming weeks
The official crop estimate for the 2021/2022 season was originally 1.27 million mt of shelled almonds, but according to the latest data from the Almond Board of California, production has already reached 1.31 million mt. Market players shared estimates of up to 1.315 million mt. The still second-highest US almond crop ever, combined with lower exports, could ensure that end-of-season stocks set a new record.
In parts of California's growing regions, the flowering period for the coming crop is over and farmers are trying to categorise the damage caused by recent frosts. “I’ve seen damage reports anywhere from 5 to 90% of flowers in our area,” Blue Diamond Almonds quote Butte County farmer Samantha Lewis in their latest report. According to her, it is still difficult to predict the crop outcome at this stage. Blue Diamond Almonds add that the trees will shed excess fruit in the coming weeks, and only then will it be possible to see what will be left for the crop. The frost may have affected the crop very differently from region to region.
|
Almonds, USA |
|
|
Type |
EUR/kg |
|
Carmel, SSR, 20/22 |
4.60 |
|
Carmel, Supreme, 22/24 |
4.65 |
|
Non Pareil, Extra No 1, 30/32 |
5.10 |
|
Independence, Supreme, 25/27 |
4.60 |
|
FCA Spain |
|
View more
- price chart, almonds, natural, +14, Valencia
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