Macadamias: production rebounds

November 23, 2021 at 8:00 AM , Der AUDITOR
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REUS/CAPE TOWN. Although the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) anticipates a more than 5% rise in global inshell macadamia production this year, things did not go quite as well as expected in South Africa. Weather conditions were, by contrast, excellent in Australia and production has rebounded from Covid in Kenya.

Production falls short of expectations in South Africa

Although market players initially reckoned with a bumper crop in South Africa this year, SAMAC estimates inshell production at 54,174 mt as the INC reports. Issue is that a cyclone brought unseasonal rains during flowering. This caused flower blight infections and impacted nut set. Yields also ranged lower in some parts of the country. The Torticidae moth, in addition, caused severe damage in many producing regions. The cyclone, however, also held advantages as the additional rains fed into the underground water resources. Production estimates, in fact, range 11% higher than last year.

The INC further states that the Australian Macadamia Society reports good weather conditions for flowering and that young trees will contribute to next year's crop. NutPak reckons that this year's production will bounce back to 38,500 mt in Kenya this year as the INC reports. Farmers only harvested 37,000 mt last year due to the uncertainties generated by Covid. With new plants bearing fruit next year's production is expected to rise to 40,000 mt. As production ranges higher in most countries this year, global inshell production is estimated 5.6% higher at 240,424 mt.

Inshell macadamia production in mt

Country

2020

2021

Diff.

South Africa

48,925

54,174

10.7%

Australia

46,900

48,500

3.4%

Kenya

37,000

38,500

4.1%

China

30,400

32,000

5.3%

USA

15,300

15,000

-2.0%

Guatemala

14,200

14,750

3.9%

Malawi

6,850

8,000

16.8%

Vietnam

5,300

6,700

26.4%

Brazil

5,500

5,500

0.0%

Colombia

1,300

1,300

0.0%

Others

16,000

16,000

0.0%

Total

227,675

240,424

5.6%

INC November 2021

Firm prices in Europe

Spot market prices are relatively firm in Europe at present. Some prices have, however, declined slightly. The prices for style 1L macadamias size 16-20 mm from Kenya range at EUR 14.80/kg FCA Spain.

Macadamia nuts

Type

EUR/kg

Style 0, 20+mm, South Africa

16.20

Style 1L, 16-20 mm, Kenya

14,80

Style 2S, 13-16 mm

12,65

FCA Spanien

 

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