Demand for Australian almonds continues to grow in the opening two months of the new 2025-26 selling season. The latest Almond Board of Australia sales position report shows that domestic sales are up 9% on the same period last year and overall volumes are up 3% with domestic sales leading the way.
A strong start to the 2025-26 Australian almond selling season has been highlighted by improved volumes into manufacturing hubs Turkiye and Spain and continued demand from key markets China and India. The dry harvest should result in a second successive year of high inshell production as the season unfolds. Although the opening month was 17% down on last year’s all conquering season, it still was the second largest March on record for Australian almost exports.
The Australian Almond crop for 2025-26 could be down by up to 10-20% on the industry’s tonnage projections.
Hot dry conditions throughout the growing season and post-bloom frosts in some areas seem to have contributed to the industry issuing a downgraded crop outlook.
Australian almonds have experienced a boom 2024-25 selling season with volumes up 29% to an unprecedented 169,541 tonnes (kernel weight equivalent). This represents an estimated sales value in excess of $1 billion.
Australian almonds growers are poised to benefit from the trade war between the United States and China, with our local industry now enjoying a major advantage.
The changing geo-political landscape is providing Australian almonds growers with a fresh opportunity to leverage the existing free trade agreement with China.
Delivery of significant amount of lower grade stock to the value-added manufacturers of Turkiye have led January sales volumes in the Australian almonds industry. Processors will finish the 2024-25 season with one of the lowest carry-outs in history as they clear warehouses of all inventory had attractive pricing.
On International Women’s Day, we acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution women make to the Australian almond industry and explore a new initiative developing the next generation of leaders.
Australian almonds surpassed the official crop intake and hit a record high of 158,339 tonnes to the end of the December. Export demand has driven these volumes with China and India leading the way. These two nations, both with trade agreements in place with Australia, now make up 69% of total exports.
The Australian almond crop estimate for the 2025 season is 155,531 tonnes (kernel weight equivalent), which is a similar intake to last year. The Almond Board of Australia’s annual crop estimate aggregates grower forecasts from across the industry.
For the first time representatives from Australia’s almond industry have developed a music playlist to coincide with harvest. Votes were cast in all of the key almond growing states, with Aussie rock, country, pop and many other genres making the list.
Australian almonds exports continue to be cleared at a record rate amid an ongoing strengthening of global pricing.
The industry’s Australian marketers and processors have shipped more product in nine months than they have in any previous full 12-month season. Pricing continues to firm and returns to Australian growers look to be further enhanced by the low exchange rate with the US dollar.
The Almond Board of Australia’s independent chairman Peter Hayes is stepping down from his role at the end of the year. He’s been the chairman for the past five years and said he was disappointed his time with the Almond Board was coming to an end. Alan Hoppe has been appointed as the ABA’s incoming independent chairman and will officially take over in January.