Peruvian fresh avocado exports to the United States are expected to grow by 21% next year, reaching 195.8 million dollars, as estimated by the Foreign Trade Research and Development Institute of the Lima Chamber of Commerce (Idexcan).
This year, however, Peruvian fresh avocado shipments to the United States may fall by 8% compared to 2017, reaching 161 million dollars, reported the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL).
In 2017, the value of Peruvian shipments of fresh and dried avocados to the US market totalled 175.2 million dollars, which represented a growth of 134%. In terms of volume, the figure stood at 66,215 tonnes, 105% more than the previous year.
“These results compensated for two years of consecutive drops, since in 2015 the sales abroad of this fruit fell by 31%, and in 2016 they dropped by about 10%,” said the executive director of Idexcam-CCL, Carlos Posada.
Between 2013 and 2017, Peruvian avocado exports to the United States accounted, on average, for 7% of the country’s total avocado imports, making Peru the second largest supplier.
The largest market share corresponds to Mexico, which accounted, on average, for about 88% of the total in this period.
The third largest supplier is Chile, followed by the Dominican Republic. However, these countries had a combined market share of 5%.
Green light to Ecuadorian avocados?
Based on the above figures, Peruvian avocados have recorded a significant dynamism over the last five years. However, the proposal of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) of the Department of Agriculture of that country (USDA) to allow the entry of this product to the US could turn Ecuador into a potential competitor for Peruvian avocados.
“Although Ecuador would not represent an obstacle for Peruvian exports to continue growing, it should be a warning to the country’s exporters not to get too confident and continue on the path of innovation and added value generation in order to obtain a greater market share,” said Posada.