Greek almond harvest yields down 30% U.S. almonds won’t increase their fresh market share, even if imported at zero tariff”

The recent “Framework Agreement” reached between the USA and the EU includes tree nuts as one of the American products on which the EU intends to eliminate tariffs. However, according to a Greek nut trader, this development won’t increase their fresh market share.

Mr. Christos Balestravos, owner of Carpebo, stresses: “U.S. almonds are available all year long and have been in the market for many years. However, they are absorbed almost solely by the industry, like chocolate factories. There, indeed, their price is very competitive compared to the Greek product, but the fresh market is strongly devoted to the local product, despite the already high price difference, which sometimes reaches even 4 euros/kg. Therefore, zeroing tariffs won’t gain a particle of fresh market share for imported American almonds.”

Currently, the Greek market has run out of local almond stocks, so it turns to imports. “The majority of imports come from Spain. Prices for first-quality almonds delivered to the importer are standing at about 6 euros/kg,” Mr. Balestravos notes.

The new Greek almonds will reach the market in the second week of September: “The Greek almond harvest is underway across Greece, with the majority of the crop consisting of the Texas, Fyrania, and Tuono varieties. Nuts will start departing from the packing stations during the second week of September. Speaking with growers from both the northern and the southern cultivating zones, I assess that the crop will decrease by about 30% compared to last season, due to the impact of the spring frost.”

Greek almonds are far more expensive than those of other origins. “Though Greek almonds can cost twice as much as imported ones, local products are largely preferred in the Greek market. On the other hand, this makes exports difficult. On our part, we export to Germany and Sweden, where the higher incomes of the people make our product affordable,” says the owner of Carpebo.

Finally, Mr. Balestravos notices a wide expansion of almond cultivation in Greece. “New plantings are taking place all over Greece, but I would say that the Peloponnese stands out. The varieties chosen for new plantations are mostly Spanish hybrids like Guara and Avijor,” the Greek merchant concludes.

For more information:
Christos Balestravos
Carpebo
Tel: +30 2541 200 900
Email: info@carpebo.com
https://carpebo.com/en/