Horticultural export markets were strong in 2024-25, with export values rising 27% year-on-year to $432 million. Strong table grape production contributed to export growth over the year, with table grape export volumes jumping 48% compared to a year ago. 155
Horticulture
- 2024-25 GVP lifted to $3.5 billion, up 5.7% from a year ago.
- The value of horticultural exports surged by 27% to $432 million.
- Notably, nut export values rebounded after a weak 2023-24, lifting 59% over the year.
The gross value of horticultural industries' production lifted to $3.5 billion in 2024-25, up 5.7% on a year ago.
At the date of publication, industry information for 2024-25 is generally limited to trade data and some price data, while other detailed production information is not yet available, consequently the following production and price commentary analyses 2023-24 industry data, unless otherwise stated.
Value of NSW Horticulture output, 2023‑24
-
Fruit
- Blueberries
- Citrus
- Table Grapes
- Apples
- Other Fruit (Excl. wine grapes)
-
Nurseries, Cut Flowers & Turf
- Nurseries
- Cultivated turf
- Cut flowers
-
Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Melons
- Tomatoes
- Other vegetables
-
Nuts
- Almonds
- Macadamias
- Other nuts
Source:
ABS (2025)
Trade
The value of horticultural exports surged in 2024-25, up 27% year-on-year to $432 million. China further cemented its position as the top horticultural export destination, with exports rising by 39% to $86 million. Japan moved up one spot to second as exports lifted 27% to $43 million. India posted the largest percentage increase, jumping 48% to $31 million in 2024-25 year. Meanwhile, South Korea dipped one spot to the third-largest export market, with export values falling $4 million (10%) to $36 million over the year.
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Exports to India continue to benefit from the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement 2022. This agreement has resulted in a reduction, or phasing out over time, of tariffs on key horticulture crops. To date, almond exports have benefitted the most from the trade agreement. Since the agreement took effect, almonds export values have increased by $20 million or by over 400%. In 2024-25, almonds accounted for 80% of horticultural exports to India.
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Fruit
The gross value of fruit production in 2023-24 jumped $181 million to $1.345 billion. The $181 million increase represented a 16% lift on 2022-23.
Blueberries remain New South Wales’ largest fruit crop by gross value. The industry posted values of $432 million for the year, jumping $71 million (20%) from a year ago. Blueberry production surged by 36% to 24,000 tonnes for the year, with favourable growing conditions and a continued expansion in plantings driving the production growth. With production surging, prices unsurprisingly dipped 12% over the year. 104
The citrus industry also had a strong year, with values rising $45 million to $379 million in 2023-24. In dollar terms, orange values lifted $31 million to $290 million, driven by a 7% rise in production. Mandarins had a record year, with values jumping 25% to $56 million. The majority of the mandarin value increase was due to higher production (up 21%) as plantings came online. 104
Value of Top 10 NSW Fruits, 2023-24
Source:
Hort Innovation (2025)
NSW Orange Exports, Volumes and Prices
- Japan
- China
- Hong Kong
- Korea, South
- Indonesia
- India
- United Arab Emirates
- ROW
- Average export price (RHS)
Source:
SP Global (2025)
Increased NSW orange production supported strong export growth in 2024-25, with a 15% lift in export volumes compared to 2023-24. Overall, the state exported 39,000 tonnes, valued at $39 million. The average export unit price was up 5% year-on-year.
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Looking to 2025-26, the global orange market is likely to see a rebalancing. Notably, market analysts expect Brazilian orange production to rebound (potentially rising by over a third year-on-year) after the soft 2024-25 production year. This additional supply global is likely to lead to moderating global orange prices. However, Australia will benefit from a lower US tariff on its oranges and more broadly for other fruits (10%) and may see some price gains at the expense of competitors who are subject to higher tariffs. 149
Among other fruits, rubus berries av gross value increased $15 million or 31% to $66 million for the 2023-24, with the increase largely coming on the back of higher production following a jump in rubus berry plantings. Meanwhile, apples' gross value rose 5% to $93 million. Lastly, cherries gross value was effectively unchanged at $72 million for the year. 104
Nuts
The gross value of nut production rebounded from the 2022-23 slump, rising $180 million or more than doubling to $348 million in 2023-24. The majority of the rebound was due to surging almond production (up 103%) although macadamia, pistachio, and walnut production (and gross values) also climbed.
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In value terms, almonds posted $214 million on the back of surging production and an 18% lift in prices. Almond production lifted to 38,000 tonnes, surpassing the previous record high set back in 2019-20. Production benefited from favourable growing conditions and as earlier plantings came into production. The price lift followed a similar 17% rise in the 2023-24 season average price received by US almond growers. For the season, US growers received $1.64 per pound, up from $1.40 in 2022-23. 189
The 2023-24 value of macadamia production more than doubled (up 112%) year-on-year to $65 million. Higher production drove the majority of the increase in nut values, with production hitting 17,000 tonnes for a circa 270% increase from the prior year. The bounce in production in 2023-24 reflected stronger yields and further increases in bearing hectares. The Australian macadamia benchmark price rebounded from a very weak 2022-23 year, jumping 90% in 2023-24 to $3.57 per kg. While the price rebound was encouraging for growers, the benchmark price remains 27% below the 10-year average. 48
Nut export values in 2024-25 rebounded strongly from the weak 2023-24 year. Walnut exports posted the largest jump, although almond and macadamia exports also recorded strong annual gains. Walnut exports surged more than 400%, with values hitting $21 million after just $3 million over 2023-24. Meanwhile, almond export values were $48 million for the year, up 33% from a year ago. 155
China remains NSW’s largest nut export market, with export values rising by 56% year-on-year to $32 million for the year. India further cemented its place as NSW’s second-largest market as exports grew by 61% to $30 million in 2024-25. As discussed in the trade section above, exports to India continue to benefit from the Australia-India trade agreement. Compared to 2021-22, annual nut export values to India have jumped by $25 million or by 500%, with almond, and to a lesser degree walnut exports, accounting for most of the increase. 155
NSW Nut Production
- Almond
- Macadamia
- Walnut
- Pistachio
- Pecan
Source:
Hort Innovation (various issues)
Value of NSW Nut Production
- Almond
- Macadamia
- Walnut
- Pistachio
- Pecan
Source:
Hort Innovation (various issues)
Vegetables
The value of vegetable production dipped 5% from a year ago to $634 million. The fall in values was broad-based, with seven of the top ten vegetables by production value recording year-on-year falls. Potatoes, however, bucked the trend, posting a 7% increase to $120 million for the year. Meanwhile, tomato values slipped 18% to $62 million. In most cases, the fall in values was due to lower prices, with the majority of vegetable categories recording production gains over the year.
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Potatoes remain NSW's largest vegetable crop by value, although the state is only the fourth-largest producer nationwide. For the year, potato production lifted 5% to 166,000 tonnes. Mushrooms, the state’s second-largest vegetable crop by value, saw production slip 8% to 15,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, melons, the third-largest crop by value, saw production remain largely unchanged at 72,000 tonnes for the year. 104
Vegetable export values increased by 9% year-on-year in 2024-25, totalling $47 million. South Korea remained NSW’s leading export market, accounting for around one-third of the value of vegetable exports. Notably, the North American market (the US and Canada) experienced a surge in vegetable exports. Combined exports to the two countries jumped approximately $6 million, for an increase of over 800% over the 2024-25 year. 155
Production Value of Top 10 NSW Vegetables
Source:
Hort Innovation (2025)
Nurseries, Turf and Floriculture
Nurseries
The gross value of nursery production in 2023-24 was $794 million, down $39 million or 5%, from 2022-23. Nationally, sales to ‘big box’ retailers accounted for the largest sales share (25%). Wholesale nurseries accounted for 22%, sales to independent retailers accounted for 17%, while landscape and primary industry sectors represented 15% and 11% of sales, respectively.
While the perennials, trees and shrubs category posted a modest sales decline over 2023-24, it remained the largest category, accounting for 47% of total national sales. Propagation and indoor plants were next largest categories, representing 12% and 11% of national sales, respectively. 104 100
Turf & Floriculture
The gross value of NSW turf production lifted 2% to $90 million in 2023-24. NSW and the ACT accounted for 30% of national turf production value. Looking at turf varieties, Couch was the leading variety nationally, accounting for a 27% share of national turf production. Meanwhile, buffalo and kikuyu were the second- and third-largest varieties, representing 23% and 18%, respectively. 104 The value of NSW cut flower production slipped 6% to $38.2 million in 2023-24 year. NSW accounted for 12% of the nationwide production of $290 million. The majority of production by value, $31 million, was grown conventionally across 105 ha, with an additional 3 ha under glasshouses and 10 ha utilising polyhouses and tunnels. 104
