Expo Agrofuturo 2018, which will take place from August 22 to 24 in Bogota, Colombia, plans to devote a large space to avocado, a product that has opened the doors to the Latin American agricultural industry in different international markets in recent years.
According to the organizers of the event, this meeting will bring together more than 450 companies from more than 30 countries, and expectations are it will generate business for more than 320 million dollars. In addition, the X International Agricultural Congress and the 1st. Avocado Territory Forum will be held during the exhibition.
Avocado is becoming an important agricultural product for the economy of the main producing countries: Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Colombia, all of which are members of the Pacific Alliance.
In Mexico, the avocado is one of the products that leaves the most money to the country, even more than hydrocarbons in net terms, the organizers of the meeting stated in a press release.
Peru estimates its avocado exports will increase by 10 to 15% in 2018, thanks to new plantations that are entering production and others that are reaching their maximum capacity.
Meanwhile, Chile became China’s largest avocado supplier, even surpassing Mexico. The demand of the Chinese market continues to increase and Chile has invested most of its promotion budget in the Asian giant.
In Colombia, the National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex) estimates that the country will export nearly 33,000 tons of Hass avocado and achieve sales for 70 million dollars in 2018.
The United States is the largest consumer of avocado in the world, as it consumes almost 2.9 million tons of this product a year. It is followed by Japan, Canada, Spain, France, the Netherlands, El Salvador, China, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Mexico is the leading exporter of avocado with a 50% share of global imports. The remaining percentage is in the hands of countries such as the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Indonesia.
According to the project manager of Expo Agrofuturo, Andres Vargas, Colombia has the possibility of producing Hass avocado throughout the whole year, which represents a decisive and favorable factor against other international competitors such as Mexico, Peru, or Chile.
"In 2017, the country shipped its first 34 tons of Hass avocado to the United States," Vargas said, adding that the opening of this market represented a great opportunity for the Colombian agricultural industry.
"The United States is a buyer with a lot of potential considering that in 2016 it acquired 90% of its avocado production from Mexico," he said.
Vargas also said that the 1st Avocado Territory Forum would have several sessions regarding different topics, such as production models, international markets, global product positioning, and international parameters for companies, among other issues.
Source: ExpoAgrofuturo 2018