Mexican avocado exports during the 2012-2013 cycle increased by more than 33 percent compared to the previous cycle, from 464,000 to 643,000 tonnes, representing more than $1,200 million dollars in income.
United States, a country in which 518,000 tons of avocados, 40 percent more than the 370.000 tons sold in the previous cycle, were placed between July 2012 and June 2013, is still the main consumer of this Mexican fruit.
United States, a country in which 518,000 tons of avocados, 40 percent more than the 370.000 tons sold in the previous cycle, were placed between July 2012 and June 2013, is still the main consumer of this Mexican fruit.
However, the work carried out to diversify markets allowed Mexican producers to sell 125,000 tons of avocado to Japan, Canada, Central America and Europe, 32% more than in the same period of the previous cycle, when 90,000 tons to these destinations were exported.
Sergio Guerrero, president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Avocado (APEAM) noted that Mexico has established itself not only as the largest producer of the fruit, but also as the largest exporter, and, after having entered the US market 15 years ago, the country's per capita consumption has increased from 200,000 tonnes in 1998 to 750,000 in 2013, of which 518,000 are of Mexican origin.
"The US market has tremendous potential, but we are already working to increase our fruit shipments to Japan, Canada and Europe, and open a new market in China that would be a big consumer. We shouldn't see this opportunity as a sprint race but as an endurance test. It is one of those things that needs to be done calmly so as to make it sustainable and open the market for the next 10 or 15 years."
He reported that they were working to increase the number of orchards certified by the Global GAP (a worldwide certification body for agricultural products), as the Mexican safety and quality systems meet the necessary requirements to supply the market.
In turn, José Luis Gallardo, president of Michoacan's Avocado Product System, considered that the country's production by the end of the 2012-2013 cycle could amount to 1.3 million tonnes, just over the 1,264,000 tons produced in the previous cycle. There would, however, be a 10 percent decrease in the next cycle due to a frost that affected some municipalities; a decrease that wouldn't affect domestic consumption or exports.
