Citrus Fruit, Nut & Other Fruit Growing in Australia: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Citrus Fruit, Nut & Other Fruit Growing industry in Australia encompasses the commercial cultivation of an array of perennial horticultural crops including citrus varieties, tree nuts, bananas, avocados, and berries. Supported by a mix of domestic demand and high-value export markets, the broader fruit sector reached a record production value of 7.3 billion AUD in the 2024-25 financial year according to Hort Innovation Australia. Additionally, the corresponding nut sector expanded to a record production value of 1.7 billion AUD in 2024-25, driving a positive trajectory for industry participants navigating evolving climate patterns and shifting international trade dynamics.

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What does the Citrus Fruit, Nut & Other Fruit Growing in Australia industry cover?

This industry comprises agricultural enterprises primarily engaged in growing citrus fruits, tree nuts, and miscellaneous fruits not classified elsewhere. Operational activities span the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and primary on-farm packing of crops such as oranges, mandarins, almonds, macadamias, bananas, berries, and avocados. It excludes the cultivation of grapes, pome fruits like apples and pears, and stone fruits, which fall under separate classification codes.

• •Primary crops include almonds, macadamias, oranges, mandarins, lemons, bananas, and avocados.
• •Operations are concentrated in dedicated horticultural regions possessing specific soil and irrigation profiles.
• •The scope covers raw agricultural output prior to secondary industrial processing or downstream manufacturing.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The industry is highly fragmented, consisting predominantly of family-owned farms and small-to-medium enterprises operating alongside a small number of large corporate growers. Production is geographically dispersed across Australia, heavily relying on the Murray-Darling Basin for irrigated citrus and nut orchards, while tropical fruits are concentrated in northern regions. The industry maintains strong links to regional packaging facilities and wholesale central markets.

• •The sector features thousands of independent farming businesses across regional Australia.
• •Queensland and Western Australia dominated the production value of specific tropical fruits like bananas, accounting for 85.9% of local banana value in 2024-25 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• •Almonds remain the single largest product segment within the tree nut subsector.

What drives demand in the industry?

Domestic demand is primarily driven by consumer health trends, population growth, and direct purchasing volumes from major supermarket chains. Internationally, demand is propelled by rising middle-class incomes and a premium reputation for food safety in Asian export markets. Market access protocols and tariff reductions under bilateral free trade agreements also serve as significant catalysts for export volume expansion.

• •Australian almond export value achieved a record 1.3 billion AUD in the 2024-25 period as reported by Hort Innovation Australia.
• •Domestic fresh fruit consumption patterns directly influence farmgate prices and crop allocation strategies.
• •Evolving health trends favor high-protein tree nuts and antioxidant-rich berry varieties.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

Competition within the industry revolves around yield efficiency, crop quality, supply chain logistics, and water security. Large-scale corporate operators leverage vertically integrated structures spanning from nurseries to packaging and marketing networks to achieve economies of scale. These major enterprises compete directly with lower-cost international producers, making operational modernization and technology adoption critical.

• •Select Harvests Limited is a prominent publicly listed Australian almond grower and processor.
• •Costa Group operates extensively across berry, citrus, and avocado categories with multi-regional farms.
• •Mulpha Australia owns and manages substantial commercial orchard assets including major avocado developments.
• •Rural Funds Group acts as a major agricultural real estate investment trust leasing out large-scale almond and macadamia orchards.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry has recently achieved historic production heights due to recovering weather conditions and strong market pricing. Moving forward, the outlook remains positive but requires strategic management of rising input costs, fluctuating water allocations, and labor availability challenges. Increased implementation of automated harvesting and climate-resilient orchard management practices will likely dictate future productivity levels.

• •The national citrus sector achieved its highest-ever farmgate value of more than 1.2 billion AUD in 2024-25.
• •Almond production value surged 20% during the 2024-25 financial year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• •Growers are progressively investing in protected cropping and advanced irrigation automation to mitigate climate variability.

How is the industry regulated?

Operators must comply with strict biosecurity laws, environmental protections, and chemical usage frameworks established by federal and state agencies. Water usage is tightly regulated under the Water Act 2007, particularly for farms dependent on the Murray-Darling Basin system. Exporting businesses are additionally subject to stringent international phytosanitary protocols and quality auditing systems.

• •The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) strictly controls agricultural chemical usage and maximum residue limits.
• •Water entitlements and seasonal allocations are legally governed through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
• •Exported fruits must satisfy rigorous inspection guidelines verified by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Agriculture: Horticulture 2024-25 ·
• Hort Innovation Australia Horticultural Statistics Handbook 2024-25 ·
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Snapshot of Australian Agriculture 2026