The U.S. saw significant increases in Hass avocado imports from all Latin American origins through September this year, USDA data shows.
Over the nine-month period, total imports from the region rose by 20% year-on-year from USD 1.7 billion to USD 2 billion. The growth came amid the lowest California avocado crop in a decade, which created a supply gap for overseas producers.
Mexico was responsible for much of the import uptick this year, with volumes rising from USD 1.52 billion to USD 1.8 billion. But there were also substantial increases in percentage terms from Peru, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia.
Imports from Peru – the next biggest origin – rose by 24% from USD 168 million to USD 208 million. That figure is more than triple imported from Peru in 2016, and also comes amid a 15% reduction in total exports this season.
Chilean supplies in the U.S. rose by 61% from USD 17 million to USD 27 million this year through September. This increase came despite the Chilean avocado indsutry also forecasting lower total supplies year-on-year for the 2019-20 season.
Meanwhile, the U.S. imported five-times more Hass avocados from the Dominican Republic. Imports rose from a mere USD 485,000 to USD 2.4 million.
And imports from Colombia rose eight-fold from USD 393,000 to USD 3.2 million. Colombia scored U.S. market access in August 2017 under a restrictive export protocol, which was eased slightly earlier this year. It is expected to increase avocado shipments to the U.S. significantly over the next few years.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal