Chile is the world's second largest producer of Hass avocados, with the fruit being a regular part in the diet of Chileans, but the recent price increases could force some consumers to look for alternatives.
Retail prices, which usually stand around 1,600 pesos ($ 2.50) per kilo, have recently doubled. At the web portal of JUMBO supermarket, of CENCOSUD group, a kilo currently costs 3,290 pesos ($ 5.24).
At Jumbo, one of the country's most important supermarkets, a kilo costs 5.24 dollars.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, a non-producing country, avocados cost just 0.89 Euro ($ 1.01) per unit. Taking into account that a kilo equals approximately 5 standard calibre fruits, the price per kilo at the Dutch supermarket JUMBO would be of about $ 5 (4.45 Euro); cheaper, and with the added value of being ready to eat.
Ready to eat avocados sold for 0.89 Euro by the Dutch supermarket Jumbo
It is surprising, since in many cases the fruit sold comes also from Chile. "It's very expensive and there's very little fruit. This is because avocado production volumes can change, and recent droughts have significantly reduced the country's acreage," affirms Juan Enrique Lazo, general manager of the Hass Avocado Committee of Chile.
Juan Enrique points out that sales at many supermarkets have not dropped, although this is not the case for smaller retailers, which have registered a drop in purchases or a switch to other avocado varieties.
"We expect prices to go back to normal around June, when fruit from other sources, mainly Peru, will enter the market and supply will increase," explains Juan Enrique.
Drought is a problem that, according to Juan Enrique, needs to be urgently addressed, as demand for Chilean avocados, which have much prestige, continues to increase, "with more open markets, such as China, and Brazil, and a good situation in Europe, where FOB prices of between 7 and 8 Euro per box are paid."
More information:
Juan Enrique Lazo R.
General Manager
Chilean Avocado Committee AG
jlazo@paltahass.cl
T: (56-2) 2334 5189