Agriculture - National Horticulture Industry Profiles - Nuts
Nuts
Macadamias and almonds are the major nut crops produced in Australia. Other nut crops include pistachios, chestnuts, pecans, walnuts, cashews and hazlenuts. In 1996/97, the total gross value of nut production was $102 m, or about 3% of the total gross value of Australian horticulture.
Major producing areas
The Australian almond industry is centred around the Riverland in South Australia and the Sunraysia region of Victoria and New South Wales. Together, these account for 85% of current almond production.
Ninety per cent of Australian commercial macadamia production is in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Bare soil management of macadamia orchard floors has led to soil erosion, and research on control measures which still facilitate harvest is in progress.
Crops produced
Crop1996/97 |
Production (t) |
Value ($m) |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds (kernel wt) | 5 890 | 39.1 |
| Cashews | 20 | <0.1 |
| Chestnuts | 540 | 1.2 |
| Hazelnuts | 20 | 0.1 |
| Macadamia | 16 050 | 54.8 |
| Pecans | 140 | 0.7 |
| Pistachios | 720 | 5.9 |
| Walnuts | 60 | 0.1 |
| Total | 23 440 | 101.9 |
 |
 |
Major production regions
| Region | Agro-ecological region |
Production (t) |
Value ($m) |
% of total crop area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North/Far North Coast, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 9 130 | 34.7 | 12 |
| Bundaberg, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 630 | 1.8 | 2 |
| Sunshine Coast, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 970 | 2.8 | 2 |
| Cooloola, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 850 | 2.4 | 2 |
| Sunraysia, Vic | Arid interior/temperate slopes & plains | 1 830 | 12.3 | 2 |
 |
Production, production trends and exportsAustralia is a small producer of almonds, accounting for less 1% of world production. In the four years to 1997/98 almond production increased almost 40% to 7700 tonnes. Tree plantings have risen steadily in recent years. Consistent increases in almond production combined with a decline in domestic consumption have resulted in a significant increase in exports over the past five years, with a value of almost $11 m in 1998/99. Australia is considered to be the largest southern hemisphere supplier. India has become the major importer of Australian almonds, accounting for around 90% of total Australian exports in 1997/98 and 1998/99. Australia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of macadamia nuts. Over the five years to 1998/99, Australian macadamia production has increased by 66% to an estimated 29 000 tonnes. Australian exports of macadamias account for around 40-45% of world trade. Exports of raw nut in the shell and processed kernel have increased 60% over the five years to 1998/99. Over this period the United States and Japan were the primary importers of processed nut, accounting for around $30 m worth of imports in 1998/99. Other major importers based on volume over the same period were Hong Kong and mainland China. |
Industry contacts
Australian Almond Growers Association: Horticultural House, PO Box 52, Berri, South Australia 5343; telephone: (08) 8301 1385
Chestnut Growers of Australia: 37 Clive Street, Brighton East, Victoria 3737; telephone: (03) 5731 1222
Australian Macadamia Society Ltd: 1/113 Dawson Street, Lismore, New South Wales 2480; telephone: (02) 6622 4933
Australian Walnut Industry Association: 5 Rolls Court Glen Waverley, Victoria 3150
Australian Pecan Growers Association Inc.: PO Box 590 Lismore, New South Wales 2480
Pistachio Growers Association Inc.: PO Box 34 Paringa, South Australia 5340
Hazelnut Growers of Australia Ltd: PO Box 2196T GPO Melbourne, Victoria 3001
Production and value data sources
Horticultural Research and Development Corporation 2000, Horticultural Productivity and Sustainability Project
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996, AgStats 1996-97
National Land and Water Resources Audit 2000, non-agricultural land mask from 1:1 000 000 Landuse in Australia
Agriculture Fisheries Forestry - Australia 1996, Agro-ecological Regions of Australia
Horticultural Research and Development Corporation, Australian Horticultural Corporation, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2000, Australian Horticulture in the Global Environment
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