After seeing record sales in May, Australia’s almond industry has once again seen record export sales for the month of June. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that almond exports for the month of June were 75% higher than June 2014 with prices averaging $11.55 per kilo.

 

After harvesting a record crop of 75,000 tons, exports are expected to approach a value of $600 million this year while domestic sales reach $200 million. Although it is too early to predict next season’s results, planting data indicates that a crop of 80,000 tons is possible, and there are great hopes within the industry that output will once again increase in 2016.

 

Persistent uncertainty about the availability of water has not seemed to have had any effect on the pace of investments in the sector.

 

“We are seeing very strong demand for existing orchards, and also to establish greenfield sites,” said Ross Skinner of the Almond Board of Australia, adding, “It certainly seems like the investors, either current producers or other investors, are having no difficulties in finding the funds to buy water and land.”