Almond sales volumes at all time high
Australian almond sales volumes for July were the largest monthly figures since Almond Board of Australia marketing data has been recorded.
The ABA’s July Position Report showed that exports for July were up 35% on the same month last year and season to date are 19% ahead after five months of the selling season.
The 22,450 tonnes (kwe) sold was 28% higher than the previous all time water mark for sales volumes in July 2017.
After five months export sales volumes were 60,803 tonnes (kwe) and total sales were just shy of 71,000. A dry season and high demand in China is driving volumes at a rate that exceeds the industry’s annual sales volumes of 10 years ago.
China inshell sales have driven the growth. More than 27,000 tonnes of inshell have been shipped so far this season compared with just over 12,000 for the same period last season. Overall, China exports are up 105% and represent more than 55% of all exports due to the free trade agreement providing favourable pricing.
Domestic sales volumes also strengthened, up 22% on July, 2023 and up 1% over the season. It is a pleasing trend given the steady decline of domestic sales over the previous 18 months.
The ABA this week also formalised a 2024-25 crop update with the pre-season estimate of 164,700 tonnes being revised down to 153,550 tonnes as hulling and shelling comes to an end. Lower yielding older trees appear to have been the major factor in this adjustment, according to ABA CEO Tim Jackson.
Mr Jackson said that improved global pricing would boost expected grower returns for the current crop.
“There is a far more positive outlook for growers than last season,” he said. “Even though yields are down a little on expectation, prices have bounced strongly and the quality being delivered this year appears to have helped marketers pack and process goods quicker and at a higher pack-out than was possible last year.”