The continued rise of plant-based diets, stronger almond prices and surging Australian exports to China have combined to propel almond producer Select Harvests to a bumper 2018-19 result after years of planning.

Before the trade war commenced, China bought about 5 per cent of Australia's almond exports but that proportion has since risen to more than 50 per cent after China imposed tariffs on US almonds. China and India are Select Harvests' two key export destinations.

Select Harvests, Australia's second-biggest almond producer and the only ASX-listed one, delivered a $53 million net profit for financial year 2018-19, up a hefty 160 per cent on the 2017-18 year and ahead of expectations.

The result makes the company a standout in an agricultural sector in which other listed agribusinesses have flagged profit warnings or downgrades, or disclosed large costs associated with drought.