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Almonds: Spain wants to protect itself

August 31, 2017 at 3:15 PM , Der AUDITOR
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MADRID/SACRAMENTO. The Spanish almond market has only one chance to hold its ground against the Californian competition: offering commodities of higher quality.

Spanish farmers and traders place great importance on the quality of their almonds; however, imports of considerably cheaper US almonds are putting increasing pressure on the prices. Growing almonds is loosing its attractiveness for Spanish farmers.

This year, about 100,000 mt of Californian almonds are expected to be imported to Spain, while the domestic production in 2017 will probably only reach 56,000-57,000 mt. To clearly distinguish domestic varieties from import commodities, the protected geographical designation of origin "Spanish almonds" will be introduced. 

Spanish almonds

Type

EUR/kg

Valencia, >14 mm, natural

5.20

Valencia, 12/14 mm, natural

4.90

Marcona, 12/14 mm, natural

7.00

Largueta, 12/13 mm, natural

7.00

EXW Spain

Balanced market
The 2017 Californian almond production is estimated at 1.02 million mt. As a result, the farmers are not only achieving a record crop, they are also producing about 18 times as much as the Spanish competition. Already in the last months of the 2016/17 season, the Californian export values were exceptionally high. Market players therefore assume that this year's increased production will be easily absorbed by the higher demand, if the prices approximately maintain the current level.

US almond prices

Type

EUR/kg

California, SSR, 27/30, blanched

5.75

Blanched, sliced

5.70

Blanched, diced

5.35

Blanched, slivered

5.45

Almond meal, blanched

5.30

EXW Spain

Attached Files

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Price Chart Almonds, Valencia, Spain

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