Avocado’s global consumption, a major opportunity for Mexico
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Global avocado consumption is growing by 3% per year; however, the production remains a step behind. This activity has strengthened rapidly in North America and Europe. The trading is doing well as demand increases all major countries that can manage to plant this fruit are seeing the benefits of this business.
Among the top ten avocado producing countries we can find:
- Mexico
- Chile
- Indonesia
- United States of America
- Dominican Republic
- Colombia
- Brazil
- Peru
- Kenya
- Rwanda
The Mexican avocado industry has a great future the country’s large capacity and its climatic and geographical advantages make it possible to supply the fruit all year. This nation is the top producing country in the world. The total area for this task is around 415,520 acres, which generates 1.47 million metric tons every year.
The avocado production in Mexico is grown in Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Puebla, Morelos, Nayarit, Mexico State and Michoacán, which has replaced pine forest with persea americana orchards. Not only this country generates more than any other in the world, but it produces more per acre as well. This fruits are harvested by hand using poles and baskets, activity that provides around 40,000 jobs a year and 70,000 seasonal harvesting employs .
Mexico exports 1 million tons of its annual 1.8 million-ton output, valued among USD 1.5 and 2 billion in total, with 860,000 tons being exported to the United States. Japan and Canada are the next most important markets. Mexicans have been increasing both production and exports over the last few years, just after avocado imports were fully opened as many reports about health benefits pushed the fruit’s popularity to unimagined heights.
As exports for 2017 were forecasted to increase to over 1.0 million metric tons, Mexico is now targeting the 2018 soccer World Cup as the next event where thousands of tons could be sold, thanks to a new avocado marketing office in Russia.
The country intends to adapt to new markets so it can export a higher volume of fruit to new regions. Actually, producers want to build a commercial bridge between Mexico and Arab countries. This could reduce shipping time and prices among many other countries around the world.
Nowadays, Europe is recording high costs due to slow supply because of climatic conditions and export taxes. In US and Canada, prices remain at a reasonable level and China has become a major import market, besides, worldwide investments in the product are increasing. As for Mexico, it is experiencing a growth in exports with a 12.4% rise internationally, being this, a more redituable product than oil and gas combined. Agriculture is still a major opportunity for investment in this country as this market grows each year internationally.
