Macadamias: global production on the rise
August 19, 2026 at 12:29 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
China expects a bumper crop
The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) estimates China’s 2026 macadamia crop at 108,000 mt in-shell at 3.5% moisture content. Improvements in cultivation and quality management, as well as financial and technical support from local governments, have contributed to higher yields and better quality. China nevertheless remains a major importer. The removal of import duties on African macadamias is likely to increase competition between growers and processors in terms of quality and production efficiency.
South Africa increasingly focuses on processing
The 2026 crop in South Africa is forecast at 95,000 mt, continuing the long-term growth trend as new plantations begin to bear nuts. To cope with rising production, the industry is continuing to invest in processing infrastructure. This includes expanding processing capacity for cracking and shelling the nuts, as well as additional capacity for roasted products and paste production, and for food safety systems. These measures are intended to promote product innovation and expand the use of macadamias as an ingredient. The price for South African macadamias, Style 1 from the 2025 crop, currently stands at around EUR 12.50/kg FCA NL.
For Kenya, the 2026 crop is forecast to increase by around 5% compared with last year, bringing the crop volume to 54,500 mt. Despite difficult weather conditions, including heavy rainfall during the harvest, production growth is being supported by the increasing maturity of the plantations. The INC therefore also lists Kenya among the countries with continuing growth in macadamia production.
|
Macadamia kernels, Kenya |
|
|
Type, 2025 crop |
EUR/kg |
|
Style 2 |
12.00 |
|
Style 4L |
7.50 |
|
Style 5 |
6.50 |
|
Style 6 |
6.00 |
|
FCA NL; price indications |
|
Australia’s crop above last year’s level
According to the Australian Macadamia Society, the forecast for the 2026 crop has been revised downwards to 56,888 mt in-shell at 3.5% moisture content, or 61,000 mt at 10% moisture content. The crop is nevertheless expected to exceed the 2025 level. In Bundaberg, 90-95% of the harvest had been completed at the time of the INC’s report. Flooding had delayed the harvest in parts of New South Wales and south-east Queensland. In Bundaberg, however, conditions allowed for an earlier harvest and yielded good-quality nuts.
Global production on the rise
Overall, the INC estimates this year’s global production at 391,738 mt of in-shell macadamia nuts, which would represent a 14% increase on last year. China and South Africa remain the largest producers, followed by Australia and Kenya. Other producing countries, such as Guatemala and Brazil, are able to increase their crop volumes significantly, but cannot keep pace with the frontrunners.
|
Macadamia production, in-shell, in mt |
|||
|
Country |
2025 |
2026 |
Diff. |
|
China |
98,000 |
108,000 |
10.2% |
|
South Africa |
81,660 |
95,000 |
16.3% |
|
Australia |
43,800 |
56,888 |
29.9% |
|
Kenya |
51,850 |
54,500 |
5.1% |
|
USA |
15,500 |
16,600 |
7.1% |
|
Guatemala |
11,000 |
13,000 |
18.2% |
|
Malawi |
10,000 |
11,000 |
10.0% |
|
Vietnam |
8,000 |
9,000 |
12.5% |
|
Brazil |
4,500 |
6,500 |
44.4% |
|
Colombia |
1,150 |
1,250 |
8.7% |
|
Others |
18,200 |
20,000 |
9.9% |
|
Total |
343,660 |
391,738 |
14.0% |
|
INC, July 2026 |
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