Mexico
Michoacan Avocado Exports Grew by 25.2% (Oct 24)
Avocado exports from Michoacan, Mexico, to the U.S. reached 135,000 tons registering a 25.3% growth this year. Cuauhtémoc Ramírez Romero, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), told Quadratin that the National Service of Agrifood Health, Safety, and Quality (Sensica) has certified 49,005 avocado orchards in an area covering 152,712 hectares to increase the export of the fruit from Michoacan to the U.S. in the next season, which began in October and ends in April. In Michoacan, avocado production is 1,000,800 tons in an area covering 181,924 hectares, representing 70 percent of the total cultivated area and 80 percent of the value of production at the national level. Michoacan produces 82.1 percent of Mexican avocado, followed by Jalisco, with 7.3 percent, and the state of Mexico with 4.1 percent. In Mexico, 8 out of 10 avocados are produced in Michoacan, with Uruapan, Tancitaro, and Salvador Escalante being the main producing municipalities.
Peru
Peruvian Avocado Exports Affected by Low Prices (Oct 28)
Peruvian avocado are exported during most of the year, however, from January to September is when 99% of shipments are made. During this period of 2022, avocado shipments totaled 613,947 tons worth $976 million, resulting in a growth in volume of 11% but a decrease in value of 10%. The drop in price in key markets is attributed to this decrease in value, where the average Peruvian exported only received $1.59/kg, one of the lowest prices recorded in the last four years, as reported by Peru’s
Blueberries, Grapes, and Avocados Consolidate as Main Export Products to the United Kingdom (Oct 28)
Peru has a potential exporter in the United Kingdom with 31 items considered as 'stars' and another 129 classified as 'promising', considered by the Center for Research on Global Economy and Business of the Association of Exporters (CIEN-ADEX). During her participation in the Free Trade Agreement workshop between the United Kingdom and the Andean Countries, the head of Consulting and Projects at CIEN-ADEX, Lizbeth Pumasunco, explained that some products are blueberries (US$ 59 million) and grapes ( $50 million). Added to this list are avocados (US$25 million), fishmeal (US$20 million), bananas (US$19 million), T-shirts (US 13 million), mangoes (US$5.8 million), and asparagus (US$ 5.6 million).
Cultivated Avocado Areas in Peru Doubled in 4 Years (Oct 24)
In Peru, the region with the largest areas certified for avocado export this year was La Libertad, with 14,107 hectares. During 2022, the areas certified for avocado exports increased by 16.3%, reaching 44,470 hectares, compared to 38,248 hectares in campaign 21, according to the president of the consulting firm, Fernando Cillóniz Benavides. In 2017, 18,486 hectares were certified for export, in 2018, 22,696 hectares, in 2019, 25,504 and in 2020, 31,273 hectares. This indicate the double increase of cultivated avocados in Peru in 4 years.
Spain
Synthesis of the 2021/22 Avocado Campaign, Andalusia (Oct 27)
The high volume of fruit in the European market, together with a reduced demand due to the loss of purchasing power and international tensions, have had a negative impact on prices at origin. The average price of avocados stood at €1.89/kg, well below the levels of recent companies. According to the records of the Prices and Markets Observatory, for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign, the final price of avocado is below €2.00/kg. In relative terms, it represents a drop of 20% compared to the average price of the 2016/20 period (€2.36/kg). All varieties have been negatively affected. In the case of Hass, with a representation of 83% of the marketed production, the decrease was 19% compared to the same period (€2.53/kg). Since the beginning of the campaign, the European market has been affected by the high productions from different origins that have been overlapping over the months.
Chile
Chilean Imported Avocados Enter the Chinese Market (Oct 24)
The imported avocados currently on the Chinese market come from Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Mexico and Yunnan. According to the traders, relatively speaking, buyers are looking for more domestic avocados because the price is relatively low, about 30% cheaper than imported avocados. Currently, imported avocados are better in terms of uniform size and taste. Peruvian avocados are at the end of the season, with little supply. So the current price has not changed much compared to the past two weeks. Chilean avocados, which were offered last week, did not gain much weight and the price was close to that of Peruvian avocados. Some traders said they want to buy Chilean avocados in two weeks, when their ripeness and flesh color are better.
Colombia
Domestic Prices of Hass Avocado Increases in Colombia in W43 (Oct 29)
In W43, Hass Avocado prices in Colombia increased in the main wholesale markets due to heavy rains affecting the harvest conditions and transportation services. The drop in supply for exports created a 17.3% price increase from USD 1.15/kg in W42 to USD 1.35/kg in W43.
Kenya
24 Tons of Kenyan Avocados Arrive at China in W42 (Oct 28)
On October 20th, a batch of 24 tons of avocados imported from Kenya arrived at Nansha New Port in Guangzhou. This is the first time a large scale of Kenyan avocados has entered through Guangzhou Port since they were approved to be exported to China. The production season of Kenya avocados lasts from mid-February to November each year, and the production season can be staggered from that of avocados from South America.
Japan
Consistency is Key for Building Own Avocado Business in the Japanese Retail Sector (Oct 24)
Produce buyers in the Japanese retail sector prefer owned avocado-purchase from a source providing consistency in price, longevity, quantity, and quality. This is due to their stores not being flexible with irregularity and last-minute changes in specifications, origins, or fluctuations in quality or pricing, which would force them to excessive labor of amendments or adjustments. Companies capable of providing such consistency can achieve steady revenue from retailers and potential expansion of their business, even if there might be a case needing approaches of discount sales at the entry stage with some retailers to spike.
France
France’s Avocado Prices to Increase 10-20% As Volumes From Peru Decrease (Oct 25)
Importers are reporting that the French avocado market was relatively quiet in W42 due to the disruptions in the oil and fuel sector in recent weeks. For this reason, the French market has a different rhythm than the rest of Europe in relation to avocado, specifically Hass. This is reflected in their sales prices, which are 10 to 20% below the sales prices reached in other European markets. In this sense, the French market continues importing Hass avocado from Peru, since it is possible to find it at lower price levels given the urgency to rotate it quickly due to the level of maturity with which it arrives. In France, a 4kg box of medium size avocado such as 16er to 20er is trading at values close to USD 9.50-10.00 while other EU markets are willing to pay USD 11.50-12.00 and more for the same product. French importers recognize that they will have to adapt to the higher prices and circumstances in the near future, since Peru's stocks are practically finished along with a lower availability of Hass avocado from Chile, which in figures updated in week 41, comes with 15% less volume. Furthermore, Colombia is exporting mostly small-sized fruit.
