Macadamias: floods damage Australia's crop
March 15, 2022 at 12:43 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Expected production increase in South Africa
In South Africa, market players are still extremely optimistic about the 2022 crop. According to Macadamias South Africa (SAMAC), the current estimates are 57,723 mt of inshell macadamias, which would correspond to an increase of a good 8% compared to last year. New forecasts are to be published at the end of the month. In 2021, the crop was relatively low, mainly because water use was restricted in some parts of the country. This, combined with the hot temperatures, had led to drought stress among the macadamia trees.
Stable market in Kenya
In Kenya, the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) expects production to increase by 4.4% this year, with current estimates at 41,500 mt of inshell macadamias. The Nut Processors Associates of Kenya (NutPak) also report a stable market, supported by high demand from China, and good weather conditions. The new season is expected to start as early as the next few days and the first shipments are scheduled for mid-April. On the European spot market, the Kenyan macadamias, Style 2S, 13-16 mm currently cost EUR 12.95/kg FCA Spain.
|
Macadamia production, inshell, in mt |
|||
|
Country |
2021 |
2022 |
Diff. |
|
South Africa |
53,320 |
57,723 |
8.3% |
|
Australia |
51,500 |
54,930 |
6.7% |
|
Kenya |
39,750 |
41,500 |
4.4% |
|
China |
32,000 |
50,000 |
56.3% |
|
Guatemala |
14,750 |
15,500 |
5.1% |
|
USA |
14,700 |
14,400 |
-2.0% |
|
Malawi |
8,000 |
10,400 |
30.0% |
|
Vietnam |
6,700 |
7,700 |
14.9% |
|
Brazil |
5,500 |
6,500 |
18.2% |
|
Colombia |
1,300 |
1,050 |
-19.2% |
|
Others |
16,000 |
16,900 |
5.6% |
|
Total |
243,520 |
276,603 |
13.6% |
|
Quelle: INC, March 2022 |
|||
High crop losses in Australia
The situation in Australia is currently more complicated. Already at the beginning of the year, severe storms in the growing regions of New South Wales led to crop losses, while producers in Queensland were largely spared. On this basis, the crop estimates of the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) were 54,930 mt of inshell macadamias; this figure is also found in the current INC data. In the past few days, however, there has been further heavy rain and flooding, this time affecting not only New South Wales but also parts of Queensland. It is still difficult to estimate how high the new losses will be, but first cautious forecasts are around 10%. Jolyon Burnett, Managing Director of the AMS, commented as follows:
“As these regions are only in the early stages of harvest, there was minimal crop on the ground when the events hit. It is however the challenges our growers are now facing with orchard clean up that is of most concern. Harvest may now be delayed in those affected growing regions while growers clean up their orchard floor, and this could further impact the crop”.
The largest growing region, Bundaberg, which accounts for about 46% of the Australian crop, has not been affected by the recent storms and harvesting is in full swing here. Updated crop estimates are due in May.
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