Has the 2025 almond harvest started in the Riverland?
The almond harvest is underway and will gain momentum in the coming weeks. Growers will be looking for dry conditions, so they can get their crop off in a timely manner without too many delays. Dry conditions will also enable more inshell almonds to be produced for our premium markets in China and India.
How are the quantity, and qualtity of almonds looking for 2025?
Almond quality appears to be good. Despite the Riverland and other major almond growing regions experiencing frosty conditions in September, the national crop is estimated to be the second or third highest on record. 2024 was a record year, with the crop 39 per cent higher than 2023. Trees generally find it hard to back up with successive bumper crops but there are a lot of new orchards coming into extra production this year.
Are you confident there will be high yields for Riverland growers?
Yields in the Riverland generally rate among some of the best in the indstry given the consistent weather conditions, but the frosts in September will have an impact on some orchards.
Have summer weather conditions impacted the almond crop at all?
Some growers have indicated they may start harvest slightly earlier than usual.
How are export markets looking?
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. Sales volumes over the last nine months for Australian product in key markets have scaled new levels, with China leading the way.
olumes into China are up 123 per cent on the same time last year, whil industry attempts to broaden the almond consumption in South-East Asia appears to be gaining traction with volume jumps in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
The Australia-China free trade agreement continues to drive demand and has resulted in Aussie almonds gaining a majority of market share. Based on shipping data and including Californian almond shipments via Vietnam since the start of the Australian selling season in March 2024, Australia has sold 69,964 tonnes (March to November) compared to the Californian combined China-Vietnam figure (March to December) of 49,752 tonnes. China has evolved as a destination of choice for the industry and the uncertainty around a potential trade war between the US and China in 2025 appears to have further fuelled this demand among buyers. India has imported the same amount of Australian almonds as last year for nine months and combined with China, the two prime markets now represented just over 70 per cent of all almond exports. The nine-month total sales volume for the season of 143,921 tonnes suggests that most processors will have extremely low carry-in inventory for 2025 season given the overall crop estimate for the season sits at 153,500 tonne.
Are growers concerned about current water buyback initiatives?
There are ongoing concerns around the availability of short term water and its price as these buybacks gain momentum.
What will be the key to a successful 2024 for growers?
Global pricing continues to improve and it looks like growers in be getting better returns in 2025 than they have done for the past two or three years. A low US exchange rate also benefits our growers when their almonds are sold overseas.
What are the key factors for tree health at this time of year?
At this time, the tree has done its job, so it is about preparing for next year with a post-harvest fertigation program before the tree goes into dormancy. Another critical thing at this time of the year is to ensure crops are stored correctly. Once harvested, almonds can be stockpiled on farms for up to six months before they are taken to a processor for hulling and shelling. Growers need to monitor their stockpiles frequently for pest insects and to ensure that condensation isn’t accumulating. Orchard hygiene is also important at this time of the year and growers should attempt to remove any almonds that remain on their trees after harvest, as these can provide carry over inoculum for hull rot and provide over wintering sites for pests.