Australian macadamia crop on track for growth

The 2016 Australian macadamia crop is on track to reach its target of 46,750 tonnes in shell at 3.5% moisture, which would represent a 4% increase in production from the year before.

In its second forecast of the year, the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) said long periods of dry weather in the majority of growing regions has resulted in ideal harvest conditions for most growers, with deliveries to processors ahead of schedule. As a result, around 80% of the crop has now been harvested.

The available kernel is expected to be around 10,500t (similar to 2015), with NIS exports remaining stable at 25-30% of the crop.

Jolyon Burnett, CEO of AMS, said production in the Bundaberg growing region has grown by 10-20% this year, with South East Queensland and Nambucca in New South Wales also showing gains.

“Bundaberg production has increased as a result of new plantings coming into production and good growing conditions,” says Burnett. “Northern Rivers is slightly down as a result of wet weather during flowering which impacted pollination and subsequent production.”

There has also been high insect pressure in growing regions this year which has contributed to some lost crop and unsound kernel rates (USK) are higher compared to last year.

Burnett noted that global demand for both kernel and in-shell remains strong and predicts continued steady growth in all markets, in particularly Asia.