November 13, 2024
Sales boom continues for almonds
September shipments of Australian almonds almost doubled the volume sold for the same month last season, according to the latest shipping report collated by the Almond Board of Australia.
After seven months of the selling season sales volumes for the 2024-25 season remain on record pace, with exports up 33%.
Overall sales now stand at 111,812 tonnes with shipments to China and India representing 60% of total sales and 70% of exports.
The high-quality season continues to result in processors and marketers moving more stock quicker than ever before. Inshell sales are up from 32,385 tonnes to 58,711 with almost all of those going to China and India.
September’s sales volumes of 22,622 tonnes (kwe) is an all-time record for a month of sales and the overall season total has pushed past the fifth highest annual volume sold by the industry after only seven months of collected data.
The demand for Australian product is heavily influenced by the quality and trade agreements in place with these two key markets. An increased focus on Indonesia appears to be bearing fruit with sales exceeding 1,000 tonnes for the first time, up 128% on last year.
With an actual intake of 153,500 tonnes announced in October, Aussie marketers remain on track to clean out warehouses for the February season’s end. With five months left and very little carry-over from the remaining season, it would appear demand and higher quality will result in a seventh consecutive record sales volume season for the industry. ABA CEO Tim Jackson said the most pleasing aspect of the season to date for growers was the significant improvement in returns on last season.
Mr Jackson said greater work was being done on highlighting the value of almonds in the Australian cost of living crisis.
“We have a non-perishable product that can be used in so many ways, so while it remains a premium product there is no waste and a huge upside in the health benefits in adding a handful of almonds to your daily diet,” he said. The industry has enlisted the support of noted TV chef Poh Ling Yeow to drive the healthy and versatility message through during the lead-up to Christmas and into next year.