FROM THE EXECUTIVE
Many Riverina growers have already finished harvest, which is much earlier than most yeras and could suggest lower yields than anticipated.
and discussing the 2025-26 crop. All will be hungry for offers of inshell as the season kicks off. A dry start to production should result in reasonable inshell production. India is now Australia’ s second largest export market as a result of the trade agreement that reduced tariffs by 50 %. The ABA has been working closely with our Delhi-based agency SS Associates to ensure a broad crosssection of leading Indian buyers attend. Some will be visiting Australian almonds for the first time. More than 200,000 tonnes of almonds are imported into India annually and Australia has just over 10 % share.
Water prices increase
Permanent and temporary water prices have firmed in recent times. Those in the market are pointing to recent Federal Government buyback purchases across the Murray Darling Basin as the key contributor to the firmer prices, especially permanent water which has jumped significantly. As irrigated industries and communities across the basin have long stated, if the pricing of purchases made through the buyback schemes are made at above-market prices then the cost of production will inevitably rise. This will reduce the viability of primary producers and could inevitably increase the cost of living, given the percentage of food and fibre produced across the basin. All eyes are now on the long-term weather forecast for south-eastern NSW and northern eastern Victoria. Storage in the Dartmouth Dam, the primary source of water for 75 % of the almond industry, remains above 80 % as we head into winter and the 2025- 26 irrigation year.
Market pricing
Global almond pricing has started to firm again after softening over the previous month. The improved pricing in the early part of the season, along with the USD-AUD exchange rate, should provide growers with a muchneeded lift in returns for the 2025-26 crop. Grower returns have been in doldrums for at least three years, but it would appear the pricing cycle has turned as the Californian crop comes in light and demand remains strong. At the recent trade missions in Mumbai and Dubai, interest in Australian almonds remained bullish and the marketers will be sifting through a range of options to maximise returns and consolidate existing supply relationships. The tariff wars sparked by the actions of the newly-elected US Government has already resulted in Australian almonds gaining advantages in China and Europe. All eyes are now on what India and the US do around tariffs as there has been speculation that a new deal might result in a reduction of Indian tariffs on American agricultural products like almonds.
Leadership course
We are three months into the inaugural industry-specific leadership and the feedback from participants has been very positive. We look forward to working with our co-delivery partners Innovative Influences to roll out the rest of the course and introduce the first cohort of graduates at the Research and Development Forum in Robinvale in October. The course combines personal development content with industry specific modules that are designed to provide participants with information that gives them with confidence to become leaders within their own organisations and the broader community.
industry. australianalmonds. com. au
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