Beyond its status as a decadent treat, the global macadamia industry, now producing over 220,000 metric tons annually, is a dynamic and rapidly growing agricultural powerhouse, driven by surging demand and strategic expansions from Australia to South Africa.
Key Takeaways
- Global macadamia nut production reached 220,000 metric tons in-shell in 2022.
- Australia produced 48,500 metric tons of in-shell macadamias in 2022/23 season.
- South Africa's macadamia production hit 91,000 metric tons in-shell for 2022.
- Australia exported 35,000 metric tons of raw macadamia kernels in 2022/23.
- South Africa exported 55,000 tons of in-shell macadamias in 2022.
- US imported 12,500 metric tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- US per capita macadamia consumption was 0.45 kg in 2022.
- Global macadamia kernel consumption reached 90,000 tons in 2022.
- China's domestic consumption of macadamias was 25,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia's macadamia industry generated AUD 3 billion in value in 2022/23.
- South Africa's industry contributed ZAR 15 billion to GDP in 2022.
- Global wholesale kernel price averaged USD 8/kg in 2022.
- 85% of global macadamia orchards are rainfed.
- Australia's industry water use averages 5,000 L/kg kernel.
- South Africa IPM adoption rate 70% in macadamia farms.
The global macadamia industry is growing strongly, driven by rising production, consumption, and exports.
Consumption
- US per capita macadamia consumption was 0.45 kg in 2022.
- Global macadamia kernel consumption reached 90,000 tons in 2022.
- China's domestic consumption of macadamias was 25,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia's apparent consumption was 5,000 tons kernels in 2023.
- Japan consumed 12,000 tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- EU per capita consumption averages 0.1 kg annually.
- US retail consumption grew 12% YoY in 2022.
- South Africa's domestic market consumed 2,500 tons in 2022.
- Vietnam's consumption increased to 8,000 tons imported kernels in 2023.
- Global confectionery use of macadamias was 40% of total consumption.
- Hawaii's local consumption is 30% of production.
- China's snack market for macadamias grew 20% in 2022.
- US chocolate-covered macadamia sales hit 3,000 tons in 2022.
- Japan bakery sector used 4,500 tons macadamias in 2022.
- EU ice cream applications consumed 2,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia's roasting industry processed 10,000 tons locally.
- Global vegan product use of macadamias rose 15% in 2022.
- South Korea imported for consumption 6,000 tons in 2022.
- Brazil's domestic sales reached 1,500 tons in 2022.
- Kenya processed 3,000 tons for local markets in 2022.
- Vietnam snack consumption per capita 0.2 kg in 2023.
- US health food sector consumed 2,500 tons macadamias.
- Global bakery consumption 25,000 tons annually average.
- China's premium nut mix sales included 10,000 tons macadamias.
- Australia's gift pack sales used 1,200 tons in 2023.
- Japan confectionery imports for use 7,000 tons.
- EU organic macadamia consumption doubled since 2018.
- World average per capita consumption 0.03 kg.
Consumption Interpretation
The global macadamia market is a surprisingly robust nutcracker of a business, where America's sweet tooth, Asia's booming snacks, and Europe's eco-consciousness are all conspiring to prove that this once-humble kernel is steadily cracking its way into the world's pantries and diets.
Economics
- Australia's macadamia industry generated AUD 3 billion in value in 2022/23.
- South Africa's industry contributed ZAR 15 billion to GDP in 2022.
- Global wholesale kernel price averaged USD 8/kg in 2022.
- Hawaii farm gate price was USD 4,500 per short ton in 2022.
- Australia's grower returns averaged AUD 5/kg in-shell 2022/23.
- South Africa kernel export price USD 7.50/kg FOB in 2022.
- US retail price for roasted macadamias USD 25/kg in 2022.
- China's import CIF price USD 9/kg for kernels in 2022.
- Kenya grower price averaged KES 150/kg in-shell in 2022.
- Vietnam processing costs USD 1.50/kg for kernels.
- Brazil export price USD 6.80/kg in 2022.
- Global industry employs over 100,000 people directly.
- Australia's industry supports 10,000 jobs.
- South Africa macadamia jobs number 50,000 including seasonal.
- Investment in new plantings USD 2 billion globally 2018-2022.
- Hawaii industry revenue USD 150 million in 2022.
- Average farm size in Australia 50 hectares.
- South Africa smallholder farmers produce 10% of output.
- Global R&D spending on macadamias USD 50 million annually.
- US import tariffs on macadamias average 0% from Australia.
- China's subsidies for macadamia farming CNY 100 million/year.
- Kenya export taxes on macadamias 2.5%.
- Vietnam FIE investment in macadamias USD 200 million.
- Brazil government support R$ 50 million for orchards.
- Price volatility index for macadamias 25% in 2022.
- Australia's levy collections AUD 10 million in 2023.
- South Africa export incentives R 500 million.
- Global insurance coverage for macadamia crops 40%.
- Macadamia industry FDI inflows USD 500 million 2022.
- Australia's carbon credits from macadamias AUD 5 million.
Economics Interpretation
Despite commanding retail prices akin to gourmet gold, the macadamia's journey from an Australian grower earning $5/kg to a US consumer paying $25/kg reveals a global industry built on razor-thin margins, vast investment, and the labor of over 100,000 people, proving that cracking this nut is no simple feat.
Exports
- Australia exported 35,000 metric tons of raw macadamia kernels in 2022/23.
- South Africa exported 55,000 tons of in-shell macadamias in 2022.
- US imported 12,500 metric tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- China's macadamia exports reached 5,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia sent 45% of exports to China in 2023.
- South Africa's top export destination is Vietnam with 20,000 tons in 2022.
- Hawaii exported 70% of its macadamia production in 2022.
- Global macadamia kernel exports totaled 85,000 tons in 2022.
- Kenya exported 12,000 tons of kernels to Europe in 2022.
- Vietnam imported 25,000 tons of in-shell macadamias from South Africa in 2023.
- Brazil exported 3,500 tons of macadamia products in 2022.
- Australia's export value reached AUD 450 million in 2022/23.
- South Africa exported to 45 countries in 2022.
- US macadamia imports from South Africa were 4,200 tons in 2022.
- China's share of global macadamia imports was 30% in 2022.
- Japan imported 8,000 tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- EU imported 15,000 tons from non-EU countries in 2022.
- Australia's kernel exports to USA were 6,500 tons in 2023.
- South Africa's in-shell exports grew 15% YoY in 2022.
- Kenya's export earnings from macadamias hit USD 120 million in 2022.
- Vietnam's macadamia imports increased 25% to 30,000 tons in 2023.
- Brazil's exports to Europe doubled to 1,000 tons in 2022.
- Global top exporter Australia held 40% market share in 2022.
- South Africa exported 65% of production in 2022.
- US imports grew 10% to 13,800 tons in 2023 forecast.
- China's exports to Southeast Asia were 2,500 tons in 2022.
- Australia's Hong Kong transshipments accounted for 20% exports.
- South Africa's Levubu region exported 10,000 tons in 2022.
- Hawaii's exports to Japan were 5,000 tons in 2022.
- Global export value of macadamias exceeded USD 1.2 billion in 2022.
Exports Interpretation
While Australia may hold the crown for kernel exports, South Africa is doing the heavy lifting in-shell, and the global macadamia trade is a deliciously complex web where China is both a major importer and a rising exporter, Vietnam is the processing powerhouse, and everyone from Kenya to the US is clamoring for a piece of this billion-dollar nut.
Production
- Global macadamia nut production reached 220,000 metric tons in-shell in 2022.
- Australia produced 48,500 metric tons of in-shell macadamias in 2022/23 season.
- South Africa's macadamia production hit 91,000 metric tons in-shell for 2022.
- Hawaii's macadamia harvest was 22,000 short tons in 2021.
- China's macadamia production estimated at 40,000 tons in 2022.
- Kenya produced 15,000 metric tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- Vietnam's macadamia output reached 10,500 tons in 2023.
- Brazil harvested 8,200 metric tons of macadamias in 2022.
- Australia's Bundaberg region accounted for 35% of national production in 2023.
- South Africa planted 12,000 new hectares of macadamias between 2018-2022.
- Hawaii's total macadamia orchard area is 7,500 acres as of 2022.
- Global planted area for macadamias exceeded 500,000 hectares in 2022.
- Average yield in Australia was 3.5 tons per hectare in-shell in 2022/23.
- South Africa's average orchard yield reached 4.2 tons/ha in 2022.
- China's macadamia yields averaged 1.8 tons/ha in 2022.
- Kenya's macadamia production per tree averaged 25 kg in 2022.
- Vietnam expanded macadamia plantings to 25,000 hectares by 2023.
- Brazil's macadamia kernel recovery rate was 38% in 2022.
- Australia's total bearing trees numbered 4.2 million in 2023.
- South Africa had 180,000 hectares under macadamia cultivation in 2023.
- Hawaii produced 1,200 tons of macadamia kernels in 2022.
- Global macadamia production growth rate was 8% annually from 2018-2022.
- Australia's New South Wales region produced 22,000 tons in 2022/23.
- South Africa's Mpumalanga province contributed 60% of national production in 2022.
- China's Guangxi province leads with 20,000 tons production in 2022.
- Kenya's average farm size for macadamias is 2.5 hectares.
- Vietnam's Central Highlands produced 80% of national macadamias in 2023.
- Brazil's São Paulo state has 5,000 hectares of macadamias.
- Global in-shell to kernel ratio averages 42%.
- Australia's 2023/24 production forecast is 55,000 tons in-shell.
Production Interpretation
While South Africa may dominate the orchard with over 40% of the global harvest, this isn't a two-nut race, as evidenced by Australia's surging forecast and China's quiet rise, proving the macadamia's journey from boutique snack to booming commodity is cracking open a world of competition.
Sustainability
- 85% of global macadamia orchards are rainfed.
- Australia's industry water use averages 5,000 L/kg kernel.
- South Africa IPM adoption rate 70% in macadamia farms.
- Global macadamia carbon footprint 2.5 kg CO2e/kg kernel.
- Hawaii uses 90% renewable energy in processing.
- China's macadamia orchards biodiversity index 75%.
- Kenya organic macadamia certification 15% of production.
- Vietnam soil conservation practices on 60% farms.
- Brazil zero-deforestation commitment by 80% growers.
- Global recycling rate of macadamia shells 50% for biochar.
- Australia's pest-resistant varieties planted 40%.
- South Africa water recycling 30% in processing plants.
- Energy efficiency improved 20% in Hawaii nuts since 2015.
- Global fair trade certified macadamias 5% of trade.
- Kenya rainwater harvesting on 25% of orchards.
- Vietnam cover cropping 50% of macadamia areas.
- Brazil agroforestry systems 30% macadamia farms.
- Australia's regenerative agriculture adoption 35%.
- South Africa solar power on 20% processing facilities.
- Global waste from processing reduced 15% since 2018.
- Hawaii pest management without chemicals 60%.
- China's integrated nutrient management 80% farms.
- Kenya tree intercropping with coffee 40%.
- Vietnam reduced fertilizer use 25% per hectare.
- Brazil pollinator protection programs 90% compliance.
- Global certification schemes cover 25% production.
- Australia's shell reuse for energy 70%.
- South Africa biodiversity corridors on 50% large farms.
Sustainability Interpretation
While the mighty macadamia is largely left to the mercy of the rain, the industry is busily patching its own umbrella with solar panels, bug-friendly farms, and a surprising amount of recycled nutshells, proving sustainability is a mixed bag but one they're actively trying to close.
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