AUSTRALIAN ALMOND INDUSTRY

There have been commercial almond orchards in Australia for over 60 years. Today, the Australian almond industry operates under very high standards in all aspects of production, processing and marketing.

Australian almond production in 2008 totaled just over 26,000 tonnes, representing approximately 3% of world production.

The majority of almond production in Australia is located in the Sunraysia region, along the Murray River from Swan Hill in Victoria through to Renmark and Loxton in South Australia.  Australia’s almond growing areas are amongst the most reliable and pest free growing areas in the world.

Australian growing techniques have lifted the yields of orchards putting them amongst the most productive in the world – delivering high tonnages of quality almonds.  Based on horticultural technical programs being developed in Australia, there are sound reasons to expect yields to improve as a result of refinements in fertilizer application, the application of water with increasingly sophisticated irrigation practices and improved pruning practices.

Australia produces high quality almonds, graded by size, golden colour and freedom from blemishes.  Australia’s international reputation as a producer of high quality almonds is driving export sales.

Australia’s crop is harvested and sold at the opposite time of year to the majority of the world supply which comes from the Northern Hemisphere. Our counter seasonality to Northern Hemisphere Growers means that we have fresh high quality almonds to sell to Europe and Asia when the Californian crop is out of season.

The marketing of Almonds in Australia is carried out by a range of organisations. AIL has chosen Almondco to be its marketing agent. Almondco is a Growers Co-operative and has a long history of maximising the returns to growers and developing strong long term relationships with customers.

The majority of the Australian crop is sold in Australia and domestic demand still appears to be rising. The customers for Almonds in Australia range from companies such as Uncle Toby’s and Sanitarium (for food products), to the major supermarkets, catering industry and snack food providers

Australia exports what is considered by the industry it’s high quality almonds to a number of destinations.  Export sales value for the 2006/2007 year exceeded $57 million.  Australia’s primary destination for export of almonds is India.

The Australian Almond industry is the fastest growing horticulture industry in Australia, it currently produces around 4% of the world’s almonds.  Within the decade it is forecast that Australia will become the world’s second largest almond producer, surpassing Spain, leaving only the dominant Californian industry (80%) ahead of Australia

Click on Graph for full size view.
(Source “Australian Almond Statistics 2007” Australian Almond Board of Australia)