Market Development
Gulfood Trade Exhibition , February 2024
Australian almond marketers commenced their new season sales at Gulfood , the world ’ s largest annual food and beverage sourcing event . Held in Dubai from February 19 to 23 , the event attracted 150,000 attendees from more than 120 countries . Interest in Australian almonds continues to grow , with demand remaining consistently strong . Manufacturers , retailers , traders , and wholesalers actively sought out the Australian almond booth to discuss potential supply arrangements .
China Nut Expo – 17-20 April 2024
For the first time , the Australian almond industry participated and exhibited at the 2024 China Nut Expo in Hefei . The ABA Marketing Officer , Lou Martin , led the trade mission , which included active involvement in the Almond Plenary Session during the full-day conference on the first day of the Expo , as well as exhibiting at the trade show .
The conference concluded with a formal dinner , where international guests gathered for an exquisite Chinese banquet . Ms . Weng Yangyang delivered an insightful speech on the economic value of the nut industry , sharing her strategic vision for industry growth and underscoring the pivotal role of Asia and China in the global expansion of the industry .
On April 18 and 19 , the exhibition featured over 2,000 exhibitors and attracted 100,000 visitors , showcasing the latest innovations in product development and machine technology .
With over 5,000 exhibitors spread across 24 halls , the Australian almond site , prominently located under the Australian green and gold banner in the Trade Arena Hall , has become a “ mustvisit ” destination for almond purchasers . Throughout the week , the booth received inquiries from more than 60 countries and handled hundreds of inquiries each day .
An expert panel featuring Ekrem Omer ( SHV ), Jake Langdon ( Almondco ), and Mark Williamson ( NPA ) provided the latest updates on the 2024 crop during the annual evening industry update at Dubai ’ s World Trade Centre Novotel Hotel . The cocktail event attracted nearly 100 guests , including significant buyers from the UAE trading and retail sectors , as well as from Kuwait , China , Turkey , Saudi Arabia , India , and Pakistan .
The Gulfood trade exhibition program also featured the annual Almond Ashes indoor cricket match , an initiative of the Almond Board of Australia . This cricket series between Australian almond sellers and Indian almond buyers has become a valuable relationship-building exercise . The 2024 series was decided in Dubai on the eve of the Gulfood Trade Show , with the Indian team defeating the Australians by 22 runs to win the series 3-2 . Veteran Mumbai all-rounder Sarwan Bangeja was named man of the match for his 41 runs and two wickets , while a gamechanging 52-run partnership with Delhi-Dubai trader Ashwini Taneja played a crucial role in the victory . Indian captain Shrey Bhatia noted that the win helped soften the disappointment of losing the World Cup to Australia late last year .
INC Congress – Vancouver , 8-10 May 2024 :
The annual International Nut Congress was held in Vancouver from May 6 to 10 , focusing on the current challenges in global almond production . The event featured a roundtable discussion on almonds , addressing global issues , challenges , and potential outcomes impacting the industry .
Representing Australia , Brenton Woolston , Managing Director of Almondco , contributed valuable insights alongside fellow panel members Laura Gerhard ( USA ) and Joan Fortuny ( Spain ).
Sial China in Shanghai , May 2024
The Australian almond industry participated in the annual Sial China trade fair , held in Shanghai from May 28 to 30 . As one of the largest food exhibitions in China , Sial China attracted over 5,000 exhibitors from more than 70 countries and drew more than 180,000 professionals from 110 countries . The Australian almond booth was part of the Food South Australia pavilion , supported by the FoodSA team and an Australian almond industry-specific business translator .
The Almond Ashes has proven to be an invaluable icebreaker and relationship builder , with traders from across India participating each year as buyers and sellers converge on Dubai for Gulfood .
18 | ALMOND BOARD OF AUSTRALIA