Almond production in Portugal is expected to decline this year due to adverse weather conditions during the flowering and pollination period, according to the Portugal Nuts association.
Speaking to Lusa, executive director Nuno Russo said that "very rainy and cold weather, particularly in March, during the flowering and pollination period," hindered almond production. "The month of March was the rainiest since 2000, with nine extreme rainfall events and was also affected by four depressions, in particular Storm Martinho, with extremely strong gusts," he said.
Russo explained that the weather "affected flowering in that particular month, hampered pollination and prevented the fruit from setting," leading to "production losses directly linked to this climatic phenomenon." He added that initial data suggest losses ranging from 25 to 75 per cent, with an average of around 50 per cent.
With the almond season nearing completion and the walnut harvest still underway, "all the work and logistics are on the ground," which currently prevents a more accurate calculation of total losses. "We have situations with 25% and others with an 85% drop in almond production," Russo said. He added that some newer orchards have shown better results compared to the previous year.
Portugal Nuts expects to publish final data on this year's nut harvest by the end of November.
Russo said he does not expect the lower Portuguese almond crop to affect domestic consumers, as the global almond harvest is projected to remain close to last year's levels.
The domestic walnut harvest is expected to be "stable to good," according to the association.
In 2024, Portugal's nut sector exported about US$141 million worth of products, with almonds accounting for approximately US$108 million, up 68 per cent from the previous year. "We have emerged as one of the main nut producers in Europe, especially almonds," Russo said, noting that the sector contributes around US$81 million to the trade balance.
Portugal is currently the second-largest almond producer in Europe and could soon become the fourth-largest globally, behind the United States, Australia, and Spain. Russo added that Portugal will soon join "the European top 5" in walnut production.
Founded in 2020, Portugal Nuts represents more than 50 members, including growers and processors, covering around 17,965 hectares of almonds, mainly in southern Portugal and Beira Interior, and 1,290 hectares of walnuts.
Source: AMAN
