Mexico set for 4% rise in avocado exports
Traders anticipate Mexico’s avocado exports in the 2016/17 marketing year will rise about 4% on the previous year to over 1 million tons.
This is attributed to expectations of continuing good international demand for Mexican Hass avocados and the fact the depreciation of the peso against the dollar is helping international sales in general.
The US is Mexico’s top export market, consuming 77-79% of its all its avocado exports. Japan and Canada are strategic market niches for Mexico, taking about a 9% and 6% share respectively.
According to a USDA Gain report, market intelligence suggests Mexico is set to produce 1.8 million tons of Hass avocados in the 2016/17 marketing year (July/June). With official estimates placing the 2015/16 production at 1.64 million tons, that would represent an increase of about 9.7%. The 2014/15 volume was estimated at 1.52 million tons.
The planted for avocados in Mexico for 2016/17 is forecast at 203,732 ha, an 8.7% increase over 2015/16 area planted.
Most states grow Hass but other avocado varieties planted in Mexico, at smaller scales, are Fuerte, Criollo, Bacon, Pinkerton, Gwen and Reed.
Michoacán is Mexico’s leader in avocado production, accounting for 80% of total Mexican avocado production.
“The Mexican Avocado Association of Producers and Export Packers (APEAM – Asociación de Productores y Empacadores Exportadores de Aguacate de México) has started working with producers in Michoacán to invest in technological improvements to ensure that avocados are free of pests and chemical or biological residues.
“This investment continues to improve the quality of the fruit,” the report says.
