This year, the world will produce a record 3.1 million tons of avocado, as there has never been so much production of this fruit, said the director general of supply of Mission Produce South America, Todd Mauritz.
Mexico will continue to be the main producing country with 1,860,183 tons (60% of the total). It will be followed by Peru, with 410 thousand tons (13%), Chile with 215 thousand tons (7%), California with 169,915 tons (5%), South Africa with 125 thousand tons (4%), Colombia with 80 thousand tons (3%), Israel with 80 thousand tons (3%), Australia with 76,113 tons (2%), Spain with 40 thousand tons (1%), and other producers with 66,026 tons (2%).
There are 361 thousand hectares of avocado planted throughout the world. Mexico has 193,883 hectares, Peru 44,245 hectares, Chile 29,885, California 22,015, South Africa 17,000, Colombia 14,000, Australia 10,860, Israel 8,800, Spain 8,000, New Zealand 4,182, India 2,700, Kenya 2,700, and Brazil 2,400 hectares, among others.
"Avocado production continues to grow in Peru, Colombia and South Africa. Meanwhile, the presence of droughts prevents the installation of more avocado crops in Chile, Spain, California (United States), and Israel. Brazil, Kenya, and South Africa have the ability to plant more but, due to political reasons, there is not much investment to generate significant growth," he stated.
New countries, such as Guatemala, Morocco, the Philippines, China, and India are venturing into this crop and, even though they have the ability to continue planting, they don't pose a threat to the Peruvian offer, he added.
Commercial windows
Regarding the production schedule (commercial windows), he highlighted that Mexico has avocado all year and that Colombia produced it for eleven months (except in August) but at a smaller volume. Peru's production goes from April to September, in the months that Mexico's production and supply decreases.
He also said that Kenya, South Africa, and Brazil also produced their avocado in the same window as Peru, but that, since their production volume was lower, they really didn't compete with Peru.
Markets
According to Todd Mauritz, in the last decade consumption in Europe increased by 300%. In addition, in the next five to ten years consumption is estimated will have an annual growth of 10% to 15%.
He said that Europe, which is supplied with avocado from 12 countries, has increased its requirement in terms of certifications (Global GAP, GRASP, Rainforest Alliance) to receive a healthy, clean and socially correct product.
He said that in 2017, Europe acquired 462,812 tons of avocados, 154,468 tons of which (33% of the total) came from Peru, 22% from Chile, 9% from South Africa, 14% from Israel, 6% from Colombia, 8% from Spain, 4% from Mexico, 2% from Kenya and 2% from Brazil.
According to estimates, this year Europe will consume 517,251 tons of avocado, 180,400 tons of which will come from Peru (35%), 19% from Chile, 12% from South Africa, 11% from Israel, 8% from Colombia, 8% from Spain, 45 from Mexico, 2% from Kenya, and 1% from Brazil.
Meanwhile, in 2017 the US market consumed 994,340 tons of avocados, 788,582 tons of which (79% of the total) was supplied by Mexico, 9% by California, 6% by Peru (64,285 tons), 4% by Chile, and 2% by the Dominican Republic.
Source: agraria.pe