Australia is expecting its highest quality almond crop in a decade following favorable weather over recent months.

The Australian Almond Growers Association says the crop is estimated by processors and marketers to be 93,000 metric tons (MT) this year.

"The dry seasonal conditions have led to outstanding quality in terms of flavour and colour with size grading similar to last year," it says.

"Experienced growers believe the product quality is the best since the period 2008 to 2010 when the drought was impacting to produce fantastic almond kernels. The hot and dry conditions currently being experienced in the production regions are ideal for almond harvesting."

It notes the U.S. - whose crop size and shipment data is crucial to world pricing - will likely come in a little under 2.3 billion pounds. Despite the tariff increases in China and Turkey, U.S. shipments are 3.5% up compared to last year and have recovered from the slow early season figures resulting from the tariff impositions in early 2018, it adds.

"Pundits believe the inventory at the end of the U.S. marketing year in August 2019 will be similar to that of 2018," it says.

"The pollination period in California, critical in determining crop potential for the 2019 U.S. crop, has been less than ideal with a delayed bloom and much colder than average daytime temperatures, and heavy rain events being experienced."