Nuts

Macadamias: dent in EU imports

May 2, 2023 at 12:16 PM , Der AUDITOR
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BRUSSELS. While farmers in South Africa and Australia are struggling with low prices due to the global supply and demand situation, growers in Kenya will have more luck this year. The pandemic and global recession have also impacted EU imports.

Global downturn spells trouble

South Africa will deliver another record production this year. Total yields for dry inshell macadamia nuts with a 1.5% moisture are, in fact, expected to climb to 78,000 mt as media reports state. Trouble, however, is that global supply and demand spell trouble for the farmers here. While global macadamia supplies have risen sharply in recent years, sales have slowed due to the pandemic, China’s zero-Covid policy and recession driven by the war in Ukraine. Producers are, however, convinced that macadamias will profit from the continuing rise in the consumption of nuts and plant-based food.

Producers in Australia are also struggling with low farmgate prices impact by the global supply and demand situation. This will certainly impact this year’s production, which is presently expected to rise to 60,000 mt for inshells with a 3.5% moisture as the Australian Macadamia Society reports. Last year’s production ranged 13% lower at 52,974 mt.

4% dent in EU imports

In addition, the global trends impacting supply and demand have impacted EU imports. The bloc, in fact, imported 7,093 mt of shelled macadamia nuts worth EUR 101 million (USD 111 million) in 2022. This is 4% down in terms of volume and 6% down in terms of value on the 7,414 mt worth EUR 107 million (USD 117 million) imported in 2021. While imports peaked at 6,818 mt worth EUR 108 million (USD 118 million) in 2020, they have declined since.

South Africa, however, remained the most important supplier for the EU in 2022, followed by Kenya and Australia. As Kenya has now lifted the export ban for raw macadamia nuts, which has been in place since 2015, the country’s exports will take on new dynamics as farmers will be able to demand higher prices with international exporters competing for supplies.

EU macadamia nut imports (in mt)

Country

2021

2022

Diff.

South Africa

3,235

2,811

-15.1%

Kenya

2,059

2,231

8.3%

Australia

1,082

965

-10.8%

Guatemala

114

533

367.5%

Malawi

549

384

-30.1%

Vietnam

31

76

145.2%

China

181

44

75.7%

Zimbabwe

-

32

-

Paraguay

-

3

-

India

0

3

-

Others

163

11

-93.3%

Total

7,414

7,093

-4.3%

Eurostat (Comext) 20/03/23
HS Code 08026200 Fresh or dried macadamia nuts, shelled

 

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