The Peruvian avocado season is now at its halfway point, with a higher volume compared to last year, although everything has been nicely absorbed by the markets in the first part of the campaign. In the last few weeks, logistical issues and delays in arrivals have led to overlapping and saturation of supply. Despite this, consumption is still on the rise.
"We started loading Peruvian avocados in March, with a strong start in sales which has allowed us to consolidate our position as exporters to the United States, where the tariffs have not had a very significant impact on sales," says José Antonio Alconchel, CEO of the Spanish company Grupo Alcoaxarquía, which has a subsidiary in Peru with around 1,200 hectares of avocado crops.
"This year, more is being loaded compared to last season, and while sales have held up well at the beginning, in the last two weeks, there have been imbalances in the arrival of goods in Rotterdam. This has also started happening in the port of Algeciras, with delays of several days," says Alconchel.
"This, together with the pressure to sell from some operators that are importing fruit without pre-established programs, is causing prices to fall. However, I foresee that in late July or early August, once we are over this slump, the markets will regain their balance," he says.
Despite it all, demand is holding up and consumption continues to increase in Europe, according to the company's top manager. "We are strongly focused on exporting to various European countries, as well as to the United Kingdom. Germany is our main market and the one leading the growth in avocado consumption, although it's also worth highlighting the upturn in Eastern countries and in Spain, where we are already allocating 20% of our sales. We are growing significantly in supermarket chains, as well as in the main wholesale markets. Every day, there are new avocado consumers in the market."
Grupo Alcoaxarquia, which has its headquarters in Malaga and subsidiaries in Valencia, Morocco, Peru and the Dominican Republic, has seen its avocado volume in Spain grow by 30% and expects a 15% increase in Peru this year, although, according to Alconchel, growth should be even more remarkable next year, as the company has recently incorporated around 120 hectares of avocado production in Granada, as well as around 250 in Peru.
"We are already getting ready for the next mango and avocado season in Spain with the prospect of obtaining higher yields compared to last season, although it is still too early to be sure," says José Antonio Alconchel.
For more information:
José Antonio Alconchel
Grupo Alcoaxarquía
Tel.: +34 607396517
Tel.: +34 951 33 39 34
[email protected]
www.alcoaxarquia.com