Free of charge

Almonds: upbeat forecast

May 13, 2024 at 10:57 AM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

SACRAMENTO. Production is set to bounce back to 3 billion pounds for almonds in California this year. The weather was great for pollination. Question is in how far this figure will hold in the objective estimate.

3-billion-pound crop

Judging by the subjective crop estimate issued by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on 10 May production will bounce back by 21% to 3 billion pounds in 2024. Yields will also range 21% higher, whereas bearing acres will remain flat at 1.38 million. Weather conditions were mainly good in the first half of the growing season. Although quite a few storms brought rain, wind and hail to some areas, temperatures were generally mild and excellent weather conditions helped pollination along between the end of February and mid-March encouraging NASS to anticipate the second largest production on record.

California almond acreage and production

Value

2023

2024

Diff.

Bearing acres

1,380,000

1,380,000

0.0%

Yield per acre

1,790

2,170

21.2%

Production (million pounds)

2,470

3,000

21.4%

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 10/05/24

Acreage to range lower

This forecast is, however, only preliminary and based on a survey in which 500 randomly selected growers took part between 19 April and 5 May. NASS will issue the objective estimate, which will be based on counts conducted in 1,000 orchards, on 10 July. Although Rabobank also anticipates a 3-billion-pound crop this year, it should be noted that Land IQ issued a slightly smaller estimate over 1.373 million bearing acres in April. This estimate highlights that acreage has declined for the first time in roughly thirty years.

 

View more
price chart, almonds, natural, +14, Valencia
price chart, almonds, natural 13/14, Largueta
price chart, almonds, blanched, 27/30, California SSR
more price charts

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Nuts
Mar 19, 2026
ORDU. Last week’s preliminary crop estimate for hazelnuts has given rise to complaints. Question is in how far the current prices will attract buyers. Turkey’s Central Bank has left the key interest rate unchanged.
Nuts
Mar 18, 2026
FRESNO/TEHRAN. US shipments are still below the record volumes recorded in 2023/2024 as the February Shipment Report issued by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios shows. Exports are showing crazy gains. Crop receipts stand at a record 1.59 billion pounds. The war in the Middle East will have quite an impact on supplies in 2026/2027.
Nuts
Mar 18, 2026
MANILA. The impact of the Middle East conflict is also being felt in desiccated coconut prices. Delivery costs are also continuing to rise.
Nuts
Mar 17, 2026
HANOI/REUS. In its latest report, the INC forecasts a new record crop for cashew nuts. Almost all producing countries are set to see an increase. EU imports, however, remain at a fairly stable level.