Lower production volume brings more balance to European market
Peru exported 390,972 tonnes of fresh avocado in the first six months of 2024, a decrease of 5 per cent on the same period last year, according to consultancy FreshFruit Peru.
However, shipments increased 19 per cent in value to US$788m thanks to firmer prices, which rose by an average of 26 per cent from US$1.60/kg to US$2.02/kg.
At the outset of the season industry body ProHass predicted that a decline in production volume would reduce the risk of an oversupplied European market. ProHass said it expected to ship around 468,000 tonnes in 2024, down from 558,000 tonnes last year, mainly due to unfavourable climatic conditions and a slowdown in new plantings.
The Netherlands took a 33 per cent share of exports in the first half of 2024, 5 per cent less than in the year-earlier period. However, the value of these exports grew by 22 per cent to US$260.7m.
A further 20 per cent of shipments went to Spain representing a 2 per cent increase in volume and 32 per cent increase in value compared to 2023.
The US was in third place, taking a 12 per cent share of shipments. This represented 12 per cent rise in volume and 36 per cent increase in value on the year-earlier period.
