INDUSTRY NEWS
Showcasing Australian almonds to international buyers
TWENTY-five Indian almond buyers visited Australia as freshly harvested nuts started making their way through processing plants in March. The jam-packed tour covered three states, with stopovers at Murray Downs Almonds, Select Harvests, Bright Light, ofi, Almondco and Nut Producers Australia. The delegation also attended an Austrade function in Melbourne and met with South Australia’ s Trade Minister Joe Szakacs while visiting Renmark. India is an important market for Australian almonds. Last year 19,801 metric tonnes( kernel weight equivalent) was shipped to the subcontinent, making it our second largest export market behind China. For several people on the tour it was their first time visiting Australia to engage with the almond industry, and the ABA asked them about their expereince:
SAMEER HARLALKA India Private Limited, Mumbai
The look, the feel, the moisture levels, the colour, everything are favourable. Our customers are asking for more Australian almonds. We mostly buy inshell and we used to deal in only nonpareil but looking at Australian carmel it is very good for us to roast because of the flavour.
GAUTAM DAVE Carmel Group International, Bangalore
I am very upset that I didn’ t get any almonds from Australia on this trip. I will be coming back in three to four months, again to see the market and in 2026 / 2027 I want to buy big quantities. We are looking to Australia because the quality of your almonds is better than what we can get from California. The new era is the Australian era, the quality is very good for our market.
ANUBHAV GUPTA Wonderland Foods, Delhi
We have been working with California almonds for a long time. We know each other so well we get offers regularly and it’ s very easy to just import. But now that we’ ve come here, met everybody and played a couple of cricket matches together, the ice has broken, we are comfortable with each other, so this really lays the foundation for a long lasting relationship.
RAJEEV PABREJA Commodity Trading Corporation, Delhi
Coming here and seeing all the processing was excellent. I would give it 10 out of 10. Such opportunities make you more knowledgeable. The hemisphere difference makes Australian almonds appealing in India. The Australian crop is available in April / May while the American crop is September / October. We need fresh almonds for Diwali.
SANATAN SHUKLA Minerva Global, Delhi
industry. australianalmonds. com. au
It has been a fantastic learning curve for me. It was the first time I’ ve seen the processing of almonds. This makes you feel more connected to the product you are selling and helps when you are talking to a customer.
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