Peru has exported an estimated 471,934 tons of avocados up to week 33 of the current campaign, i.e. 10% less than in the same period of the previous campaign. According to Elizabeth Miranda, commercial manager of Agrobusiness International Peru, this decrease was mainly observed in May and June, when there usually is a high concentration of fruit, contributing to an approximate 30% increase in prices during those months.
Miranda also said there was an increase in production in the highlands and the incorporation of new fields this season because climate change significantly affected several large producers, especially in the north. However, the entry of new small producers, who were not previously mapped, would have partially compensated for this drop.
Europe, led by the Netherlands and Spain, remains the main market for Peruvian avocado, accounting for 56% of total exports. The United States follows it with 14%, the United Kingdom with 8%, China with 5%, Chile with 4%, and shipments to Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong have recently begun, with volumes that are not yet significant.
Miranda added that she didn't expect a significant drop in exports towards the end of the year as export volumes from September to February are usually low. She also stressed that the planted area is bigger than officially reported (67,000 hectares) and projected that Peru would continue to be the world's second-largest avocado exporter, achieving better prices. Finally, she underlined the importance of the volumes contributed by small producers for the success of this season.
Source: agraria.pe