Macadamias: exports with growth potential
February 24, 2026 at 8:30 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
India is a growth market
Australian macadamias are becoming increasingly important in India. The decisive factors are the rising demand for premium ingredients, more intensive trade contacts and improved market access conditions, wrote the Australian Macadamia Society in a recent report.
At the end of January, the organisation took part in MEWA India 2026, the country's largest trade fair for nuts and dried fruit, organised by the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council India. This provided an opportunity for direct exchange with representatives of the food and beverage industry and to assess market sentiment. There was clear interest across the industry in high-quality ingredients and innovative product concepts.
An important step forward for Australian producers is the gradual reduction of import tariffs. The tariff rate has been reduced from 30% in 2022 to 9% as of 1 January 2026. In addition, there is a clear roadmap for the complete abolition of tariffs by 1 January 2028.
The growth of café culture and the increasing demand for high-quality culinary experiences were identified as key trends at the trade fair. Opportunities in other segments also became apparent. These include refined baked goods such as biscuits, pastries, fillings and toppings, as well as high-quality snack products. The growth of fast food restaurants and delivery-oriented catering models is also creating additional sales channels.
EU increases imports by 66.6%
Demand for macadamias also rose significantly in the EU. In the first few weeks of the new calendar year (1 January to 15 February 2026), 1,496 mt of macadamias worth EUR 16.313 million were imported from third countries. Compared to last year, the import volume has thus increased by 66.6%, while the import value has still risen by 59.3% due to more favourable average prices (-4.4% to EUR 10.90/kg). At 597 mt, around 40% of shipments came from South Africa, followed by Kenya with 518 mt (34.6%) and Australia with 217 mt (14.5%).
The Netherlands is the largest buyer within the EU, importing 637 mt or around 42.6% of total EU imports during the above-mentioned period. Other key importing countries are Germany (561 mt or 37.5%) and Spain (146 mt or 9.8%).
|
EU macadamia imports, in mt |
|||
|
Partner |
2025 |
2026 |
Diff. |
|
South Africa |
687 |
597 |
-13.1% |
|
Kenya |
84 |
518 |
516.7% |
|
Australia |
61 |
217 |
255.7% |
|
Vietnam |
13 |
71 |
446.2% |
|
Guatemala |
46 |
61 |
32.6% |
|
China |
0,25 |
19 |
7,500.0% |
|
Malawi |
- |
11 |
n/a |
|
Others |
7 |
2 |
-70.4% |
|
Total |
898 |
1,496 |
66.6% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/01-15/02 08026100+08026200 Macadamias, shelled and inshell |
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