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Daniela Vesga Sourdis, of Ocati

Inspections, delays, and falling prices: the challenge of exporting exotic fruit to Europe

With more than 40 years of experience, Colombia's passion fruit sector has experienced remarkable growth. The strategy of producers has focused on guaranteeing stable production and allowing continuous supply to international markets all year round.

"We export around 90 tons of passion fruit, also known as gulupa, per week," says Daniela Vesga Sourdis, export analyst at Ocati. In 2024, the company achieved growth, driven by the strengthening of its network of allied producers and the demand for exotic fruits in the international market.

"The main export market is Europe, with the Netherlands as the entry point for the product's further distribution on the continent. Exports also go to Canada and the Middle East, although those are smaller shipments. The demand varies per country. In France, passion fruit is consumed on a massive scale, while in Italy it is perceived as a niche premium product for special occasions," says Daniela.

Seasonality is a determining factor in the demand. "The best figures are recorded in the period between October and December when demand increases due to the festive season and there is less competition from local fruit. In contrast, in January, the demand drops and prices fall. During the European summer (June-August), competition with local fruits such as peaches and melons takes a toll on the demand," she says.

One of the main challenges for the industry is the increase in inspections in European ports, which can lead to delays in the delivery of the fruit and cause the quality of the product to be affected. "Colombia has been subject to increasingly stricter inspections, which has caused delays in our logistics," says Daniela.

"To maintain their competitive advantage, Colombian producers are focusing on diversification and the development of new passion fruit varieties, better adapted to market preferences. They are also working on expanding the portfolio with processed products, such as dehydrated fruits, with the aim of adding value and not being limited to the export of fresh fruit," says the analyst.

"Our competitive advantage lies in the fact that we are able to produce these fruits all year round thanks to our geographical location, unlike Europe, where productions are seasonal," says Daniela.

For more information:
Daniela Vesga Sourdis
Ocati
Km 2 Via Chía a Cota
Colombia
Tel.: +57 3182592728
[email protected]
www.ocati.com