The European avocado market is more stable in Europe than in the United States, where, at the moment, prices are recording all time highs. However, avocado prices are rising in Europe due to the growth in demand and to the fact that large suppliers, such as Peru, have redirected many of their shipments to the North American market because of the lower prices in Europe and the price boom in the US, as explained by Juan Antonio Reyes Gutiérrez, manager of Reyes Gutiérrez.
"Demand in Spain is on the rise right now as the influx of tourists is growing, and we expect it to continue rising this summer, although we may see the negative impact of the wave of terrorist attacks," states Juan Antonio Reyes.
The Malaga-based company is currently marketing avocados from Peru and South Africa exclusively, 60% of which are going to Spanish supermarket chains, while the rest are shipped to EU markets.
"We could soon reach a per capita consumption of 1 kilo in Europe
The Spanish market is recording a clear growth in the consumption of avocados, with increases of 15-20% per year.
According to Juan Antonio Reyes, avocado consumption currently stands above 1 kilo per capita in countries like France, the UK, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, etc., and is growing fast in other countries, such as Spain, Austria, Germany, Norway or Ireland. "We think that, in a few years, we could easily be speaking of 2 kilos per capita. The good work carried out by the avocado sector in the post-harvest and the improvement of the product's shelf life are still key to ensure that consumption continues to grow," he points out.
Spain, ideal gateway to Europe for Latin American avocados
"It is true that Mexico, just like Peru or Chile, prefer to export to the US market at certain times of the year, taking into account the proximity and that it has 40 million Spanish speakers. Nevertheless, Spain is increasingly becoming a gateway to Europe for Latin American exporters, and this is clear from the export figures, which place Spain as one of the main export destinations for Latin American products in terms of volume. Europe has gone from handling 5,000 tonnes to reaching 10,000 tonnes per week in less than 3 years;" a volume which would have caused prices to fall a few years ago and that, today, hardly affect the strength of this market.
"If Israel reaches 20-25 tonnes per hectare, we can also achieve that"
Although Spain is not growing much yet in terms of acreage, it is taking steps forward when it comes to its agronomic and technological level. The acreage is mostly concentrated in small smallholder farms in Malaga and Granada, although we are starting to see plantations in Valencia. "If we continue to make progress in modernization, the current yield of 5-7 tonnes per hectare will become history. If Israel can achieve yields of 20-25 tonnes per hectare, we, with a milder climate, can also achieve it."
For more information:
Lola García
Communications Manager
REYES GUTIÉRREZ
Tel. +34 952 50 56 06