Portuguese almond harvest set to reach record high with 40% jump in production
Portugal's almond growers are harvesting what may become the sector's largest ever crop, with production expected to reach 114,900 tonnes of in-shell almonds this year. The forecast from the Portugal Nuts association represents a 39% increase compared to the previous campaign.
The projection, developed in partnership with Demeter, an international agricultural data specialist, translates to approximately 34,470 tonnes of shelled almond kernels. Tiago Costa, president of Portugal Nuts, described the outlook as "quite favourable", noting not just higher volumes but a "very significant improvement in yield".
Harvest timeline and quality gains
The 2026 harvest began in mid-August and will extend through to mid-October, a slightly longer season than usual. Costa, speaking to journalists after Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes visited an almond processing facility in Beja, said the sector is seeing "much higher yields than last year and quite good quality".
The timing is critical for growers. Almonds should be harvested when the outer hull turns brown and dry, with the nut ready for collection. Delayed harvesting risks nuts falling to the ground where they can be damaged.
This year's results mark a turning point for a sector that expanded rapidly and is now consolidating its knowledge base. Costa acknowledged that the industry "grew a lot in a very short time" and initially relied heavily on information from abroad that was adapted to Portuguese conditions. That learning curve meant some orchards were removed in recent years—a process Costa described as involving "relatively small areas".
"We are now consolidating all this knowledge," he said, adding that producers are "no longer working in the dark". This operational maturity, combined with favourable weather throughout the growing season, underpins the record forecast.
Irrigation driving productivity
The production gains reflect Portugal's shift from traditional rain-fed orchards, concentrated in Trás-os-Montes, to modern irrigated plantations in the Alentejo. Infrastructure investments linked to the Alqueva dam have been significant for this transformation.
Irrigated orchards can yield between 1,500 and 2,500 kg per hectare of shelled kernels, compared to approximately 650 kg per hectare in rain-fed systems. Water availability, during the critical period from fruit filling through to final size, can effectively triple production while significantly improving kernel quality.
The Alentejo has emerged as Portugal's primary almond-producing region, with Castelo Branco also showing strong growth. Portugal now ranks as Europe's second-largest almond producer and sits among the top five globally, with the sector exporting 115.45 million euros worth of product in 2025.
Government support consolidates gains
The sector's expansion has coincided with significant government backing. In 2026, authorities approved over 450 million euros in support for agriculture, with more than 250 million euros from the state budget. This includes 60 million euros for irrigation infrastructure repairs and a further 20 million euros in extraordinary support to offset rising production costs linked to the geopolitical crisis.
The support programme provides 28 euros per hectare for irrigated land and 12 euros per hectare for rain-fed areas, targeting fertilizer and energy costs.
Costa noted that prices have also risen this year, making 2026 "favourable for producers". But he cautioned that the sector would see "normal fluctuations", with older orchards giving way to new plantings—a natural renewal process.
"Stability is perhaps the most appropriate word for what should be invested," he concluded.
Portugal Nuts, established in 2019, now represents 46 members—producers and processors—covering over 20,000 hectares, with 95% dedicated to almonds across southern Portugal and the Beira Interior.
