Country is relatively minor player in terms of production, but new access is important as global market demand continues to grow
The Brazilian government has announced sanitary approvals from Angola and South Korea for the import of dried macadamia nuts from Brazil, and from Australia and the UK for processed dried macadamia nuts.
According to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the granting of access will boost trade with these countries, and further reinforce international confidence in Brazil’s sanitary control system.
According to the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council, macadamias along with cashews and walnuts have shown the largest increases in tree nut supply value over the past decade, rising from US$510m in 2013/14 to US$1.06bn in 2022/23.
Global production in volume terms has risen 114 per cent from 36,564 tonnes to 78,415 tonnes over the same ten-year period. Consumption has also grown.
South Africa remains the largest producer worldwide with around 70,000-80,000 tonnes, followed by Australia with roughly 50,000-60,000 tonnes, then China and Kenya. Brazil is a relatively minor player, with just over 1,100 tonnes production per annum.
South Korea’s appetite for the product has show notable growth of late, with its imports of shelled macadamias up from 186 tonnes in 2011 to 1,037 tonnes in 2021. Imports into the UK, by contrast, have remained more or less the same at around 400-500 tonnes.
Australia, meanwhile, despite being a major producer and exporter itself, continues to import between 1,000 and 2,000 tonnes each year.
