Australian almond sales reached the highest monthly figures recorded by the Almond Board of Australia.
The ABA’s July Position Report indicated that July exports rose by 35 per cent compared to last year, with the season-to-date figures showing a 19 per cent increase after five months.
The 22,450 tonnes (kwe) sold in July exceeded the previous record of 17,547 tonnes set in July 2017 by 28 per cent.
After five months, export sales totalled 60,803 tonnes (kwe), with overall sales nearing 71,000. A dry season and strong demand in China are driving volumes beyond annual sales levels seen a decade ago.
Growth has been propelled by China’s inshell sales. Over 27,000 tonnes of inshell have been exported this season, compared to just over 12,000 last year. Overall, exports to China have increased by 105 per cent and now account for over 55 per cent of total exports, aided by favourable pricing from the free trade agreement.
Domestic sales also improved, rising 22 per cent compared to July 2023 and up 1 per cent for the season, a positive shift following a decline in domestic sales over the past 18 months.
Additionally, the ABA this week revised its 2024-25 crop estimate from 164,700 tonnes to 153,550 tonnes as hulling and shelling conclude. ABA CEO Tim Jackson noted that lower yields from older trees were a key factor in this adjustment.