Australia’s avocado industry continues to grow with the latest data released by Avocados Australia showing production increased 2 per cent to 87,546 tonnes over the 12 months to 30 June 2020 (2019/20).
Although production in Queensland, Australia’s largest avocado growing state, dropped 4,098 tonnes to 43,069 tonnes in 2019/20, Western Australia picked up the slack with production rising from 25,123 tonnes in 2018/19 to 33,239 tonnes in 2019/20.
Another notable change came in the Tristate production region, which encompasses southern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, where output doubled from 2018/19.
Apart from 2016/17, Australia’s avocado production has grown annually since 2013/14, a trend Avocados Australia sees continuing.
It forecasts production to increase strongly over the next few years with at least 115,000 tonnes to be produced per annum by 2025. This trend is driven by growing consumption in Australia, which rose again in 2019/20 to 3.88kg per person.
Although most of Australia’s avocados are grown to feed the hungry domestic market, there are opportunities overseas, particularly in Asia.
Australia is continuing to develop its main export markets Singapore, which accounts for 38 per cent of avocado exports and Malaysia, which accounts for 36 per cent. As a result, Australia exported 4,051 tonnes in 2019/20, its highest volume of fresh avocados to date.
The upcoming Summer edition of Produce Plus Magazine will include the latest news from the Australian and New Zealand avocado industries.
