Australia's consumption of avocados increased over the past calendar year, to complement the increase in production, according to the peak avocado body.
The annual Facts at a Glance for the Australian avocado industry 2021/22 report showed that Australia's avocado consumption jumped from 4.0 kg per person/capita in 2020/21 to s 4.76 kg per person, as consumers took advantage of favourable retail prices. Some of the major supermarkets were selling the fruit for as low as $1 each throughout the past twelve months, but at the same time, Avocados Australia admits there were some challenges for growers across the industry.
“This year there has been an oversupply of Australian avocados as growers' recent plantings hit their stride,” CEO of Avocados Australia John Tyas said. “The updated long-term forecast suggests Australia’s avocado production is expected to continue to increase to about 170,000 tonnes by 2026, more than double the 2020-21 crop. As a result of the oversupply, this year growers experienced unsustainable, low average wholesale prices. In response, the industry plans to export more avocados in the coming years. Western Australia, our main growing region supplying avocados during summer, has a lighter crop this year so an increase in the average wholesale price is expected coming into the Christmas months.”
Australia has seen a massive spike in production over the past twelve months, showing the nation produced just over 122,197 tonnes of avocados, which was 56 per cent more than the previous year. The gross value of production (GVP) for Australian avocados was estimated at $403 million. That meant 44,112 additional trays of avocados were produced in 2021-22, and Western Australia accounted for 77 per cent of the total increase.
While Queensland continues to produce the majority of Australian avocados, with 48 per cent of production, WA produced the next largest share at 39 per cent, following a massive increase in production from 20/21 - it jumped from 13,547 tonnes to 47,316 tonnes.
This increase has also led to the Australian avocado industry being set to increase exports to Japan this year and plans to increase its export volume year-on-year. The Australian avocado industry has invested in a marketing campaign scheduled to promote Australian avocados to Japanese shoppers. This activity is managed by Hort Innovation, on behalf of the Australian avocado industry, and is funded by the avocado marketing levy. The campaign commenced in mid-September and will continue through November. It will include social marketing and in-store retail promotions.
"Japan is the largest avocado market in Asia, and it has lots of growth potential for us," Mr Tyas said. "Australian avocados were very well received in Japan last year and our exporters made substantial inroads into developing partnerships with Japanese importers. Despite a lighter crop in Western Australia this year we are expecting a three-fold increase in the quantity of avocados that will be exported to Japan. We expect next year to be even bigger, and this is all part of a long-term strategy to grow our exports and support the Australian avocado industry.”
In 2021/22 Australia exported 11,626 tonnes, representing an increase of 268% over the previous financial year, and 9.5% of the total 122,197 tonnes produced in Australia. Hong Kong was the biggest destination with 46 per cent of international supply, followed by Singapore (31%) and Malaysia (19%). The Facts at a Glance report also noted that Japan imports more than 60,000 tonnes of its avocado supply, providing opportunities for Australian growers.
The report also confirmed the future growth of the industry, with Australian production forecast to increase strongly over the next few years, with more than 170,000 tonnes per annum expected to be produced by 2026.
The growth has been predominantly made up by the Hass variety, which almost doubled production in this financial year from 55,025 tonnes to 100,904 tonnes. While the Shepard variety dropped slightly to 17,709 tonnes from 19,540 tonnes. Shepard is harvested in Queensland through late Summer and Autumn.
For more information:
John Tyas
Avocados Australia
Phone: +61 7 3846 6566
[email protected]
www.avocado.org.au