New almond plantings in Australia continue to level out while international demand outstrips supply according to the latest statistical survey released by Almond Board of Australia (ABA).
The ABA’s 2023-2024 Almond Insights handbook was published on the industry website today following the compilation of the annual planting and marketing survey.
While there were tree removals recorded in the survey, the overall planted area increased from 62,412 to 64,192.
Almond Board of Australia CEO Tim Jackson said there is a distinct trend over the past three years that higher costs of production, low returns and uncertainty around longer term water availability and cost has tempered the industry’s expansion rate.
“It’s clear the decade long planting boom that has resulted in the industry more than doubling in size has levelled off, as existing growers and potential investors take stock,” he said.
“There has been some tree removals and consolidation in some areas following the high rainfall events of late 2022 and early 2023.”
Sunraysia still remains the largest growing region, followed by the Riverina and Riverland which have increased.
It is likely that the traditional Adelaide Plains growing district will disappear in the not too distant future, Mr Jackson said.
“Urban sprawl has resulted in several long term farms being sold to property developers, so sadly primary production in one of the most fertile horticultural districts in SA is fast making way for housing.
“The statistics revealed an increased take up of self-fertile varieties as the cost of pollination becomes a major consideration in orchard development decisions. Despite this trend, the traditional high earning nonpareil remains almost 50% of all plantings.
“Nonpareil is the most sought after almond variety produced in Australia and growers receive a premium for growing it,” Mr Jackson said.
“The improved prices as 2024 has progressed has been the most critical development to the viability of growers.
“The 2023-24 season will go down as one of the most challenging in modern history of the almond industry.
Growers could not take a trick, from a problematic pollination to much lower yields and low prices.
It was a perfect storm of bad news.
“The resilience of our growers to come out the other end of that and now see pricing return to far more viable levels will drastically improve the bottom lines of many.”
Mr Jackson said the Almond Board is hoping to receive co-operation from the grower cohort to combine a benchmarking study with the 2024-25 annual planting survey to provide much sought-after key business data.
For more information contact Communications Manager Kellie Hollingworth on 0409 393 403 or email khollingworth@australianalmonds.com.au
Almond industry releases new stats
