CALIFORNIA (Commodity Online):  Almond shipments from the US have witnessed a huge rise in the past few years and this year it was no different.

An example of Blue Diamonds is enough to prove that US’s almond trade is flourishing.

Over two dozen innovative almond products contributed hugely to Blue Diamond’s stellar 2008 crop return .

According to president and CEO Doug Youngdahl, despite a global recession, almond shipments increased 23 per cent. This pushed overall shipments to a record 10.2 per cent increase versus the 2007 crop year for another near-record sales year of over $700 million.

While US consumer demand for almonds grew four per cent, Blue Diamond’s North American snack sales increased 23 per cent versus the prior year. Almond Breeze sales jumped 43 per cent and Nut thins rocketed by 24 per cent to outstrip sales growth in their respective product categories. Blue Diamond’s consumer branded sales have grown 600 per cent in the last seven years.

US export shipments were up almost 13 per cent. Over 70 per cent of California almonds are exported.

Widening awareness of the nutritional benefits of eating almonds is expected to continue to drive demand upward, especially in markets that sizzled this year: shipments to India jumped 19 per cent; Middle Eastern markets increased by 51 per cent and opportunities in China abound with a 115 per cent gain!

Since 1910, Blue Diamond has opened all major almond markets; advocated for reduced trade barriers and increased market access; created new almond products in major food categories; formed partnerships with suppliers to adapt new technologies for food safety, product quality, productivity and package design; helped to obtain tax benefits for cooperative growers; and formed the California Almond Export Association to promote better export market information.

Blue Diamond is cautiously optimistic about a continuing trend toward stronger market price levels. While the 2009 crop is forecast to decline by 17 percent, a carryover from the 2008 crop of 413 million pounds means the total almond supply is relatively even with last season. Improvement in the global economy, historical almond growth rates and lower inventory could see a continuing firming trend in prices depending on weather conditions during the 2010 bloom and the possible effects of a predicted El Nino.
(Courtesy: PRNewswire)

Post your comment  (1)

Connect:

Post to Twitter

Post to Facebook