California almond shipments stabilize in April following March declines

California almond shipments held steady in April, with continued volatility in export markets and lagging domestic performance weighing on overall movement.

According to the Almond Board of California’s April 2025 position report, total shipments reached 241.1 million pounds for the month, nearly unchanged from the 241.5 million pounds shipped during the same period last year. Year-to-date shipments through April totaled 2.05 billion pounds, down 1.42% from the prior year.

Domestic shipments declined for the second month in a row, falling 17.8% in April to 53.3 million pounds. Year-to-date domestic movement is now down 5.2% from the 2023-2024 crop year. April’s decline follows a 17.1% drop in March, pointing to continued weakness in U.S. consumer and retail demand.

Export shipments remained more stable, increasing 6.3% in April to 187.8 million pounds. However, cumulative export figures show a slight 0.07% decrease year-over-year, suggesting uneven performance across regions.

India, the top export destination, imported 45.9 million pounds in April — a significant jump from March — but remains down 3% for the season. Northeast Asia posted mixed results, with Japan up 5% year-to-date and Taiwan up 34%, while China, Hong Kong and Vietnam fell a combined 51% compared to last year.

Shipments to Western Europe dropped 1% year-to-date. Spain, Germany and Italy — among the largest European buyers — showed declines ranging from 10% to 17%. Eastern European markets like Lithuania and Ukraine posted year-over-year growth, though from smaller bases.

Sales and commitments remain a focal point for the industry. Total committed but unshipped inventory stands at 525 million pounds, down 5% from last year. Domestic commitments fell nearly 17%, while export commitments grew 4.5%.

Meanwhile, the 2024 crop is nearly fully received, totaling 2.71 billion pounds, an 11% increase over the prior year. Quality remains solid, with inedible rates averaging 3.09% across all varieties. Nonpareil continues to dominate production, representing over 40% of the crop.

Uncommitted inventory rose 4.3% to 557.7 million pounds, a signal of increasing supply pressure. With a forecasted carryout of 550 million pounds, pricing remains under pressure, especially for lower-grade varieties.

As global markets react to ongoing trade policy shifts, especially proposed Canadian tariffs and EU threats of future duties, handlers remain cautious about forward sales.