Australia’s almond industry moves to cash in on Donald Trump’s tariffs

Olympic swimming champion Kyle Chalmers has been recruited to sell the story of Australian almonds to the world as the local industry seeks to cash in on the US trade war.

Kyle Chalmers and fiancee Ingeborg Loyning with Victoria and Audrey Callipari at the Callipari almond orchard in Griffith.

Australian almond growers could be among the biggest winners from the US trade war, with the local industry looking to capitalise on the tariff hit to the dominant Californian market by injecting some star power into a new global marketing campaign.

Close to 80 per cent of the world’s almond supply is currently sourced from Californian growers, but following retaliatory tariffs of 10 per cent imposed by Chinese authorities, they now face a 35 per cent charge on exports to one of the world’s largest markets.

China had earlier imposed a 25 per cent tariff on American almonds during the first Trump administration.

Almond Board of Australia chief executive Tim Jackson said those punitive tariffs provided local almond growers with a major advantage given Australia’s free trade agreement with China.

“The trade agreements our federal governments have delivered have made a huge difference to grower returns. The retaliatory tariffs tend to accentuate that advantage,” he said.

Australia produces about 10 per cent of the world’s almonds.

“The fact remains that the world needs Californian almonds to meet demand, given it produces almost 80 per cent of the world’s supply.

“Our role in Australia, with about 10 per cent of the world’s almonds, is to provide a credible alternative source of supply and our primary goal is to target the premium end as much as possible to maximise returns to Australian growers.

“Just like China, if there are advantages in certain countries as a result of retaliatory tariffs being imposed on US product, market forces will inevitably direct buyers toward supply sources where the import costs are cheaper.”

More than 163,000 tonnes of Australian almonds have been sold during the 2024-25 season (March 2024 – January 2025), up 30 per cent on the same time last year, while exports are up 32 per cent on the back of strong growth in China, India, Europe and the Middle East.

Exports to China increased by 129 per cent to more than 75,000 tonnes.

Australia has risen to become the world’s second-largest grower, with about 80 per cent of annual production exported to overseas markets.

Rising demand for almonds, which have also ridden the wave of the alternative milk boom, has made them one of Australia’s most valuable crops. And that has fuelled a plantings boom over the past decade, with orchard areas across the Sunraysia, Riverland and Riverina areas of the lower Murray more than doubling since 2016 to more than 64,000ha.

Kyle Chalmers in the pool during the Queensland Championships last year. Picture: Wade Brennan

Mr Jackson said that amid the growing uncertainty surrounding the global trade environment, the local industry was “razor-focused on building its brand presence globally”.

After announcing celebrity chef Poh as the first global ambassador for Australian Almonds – the brand used by the Almond Board to sell the Australian story to the world – last year, it has now recruited Olympic swimming champion Kyle Chalmers as an ambassador to promote the health and nutrition benefits of Australian almonds.

Chalmers said he was a regular consumer of almonds, and looked forward to informing consumers about their health benefits.

“I’m a massive almond eater and always have been. My grandfather had an almond tree in the backyard and we would pick and snack on them, so I have grown up loving them and having that special bond with my Grandpa too,” he said.

“I see a great opportunity for me to help spread the word of how great Australian almonds can be for you and how regularly I eat them to be able to train and compete at the level I need to.”

Originally published as Australia’s almond industry moves to cash in on Donald Trump’s tariffs