The avocado campaign will begin in La Axarquía with the harvest of the early varieties. A stable season is expected, with optimum quality and the right calibres to ensure success in the markets. The total production should amount to about 55,000 tonnes.
Moreover, a good marketing year is expected because demand in the EU is more dynamic than ever. The total volume of avocados sold in Europe in 2016 (calendar year) slightly exceeded 400,000 tonnes; a record figure which, compared to 2015, when 348,415 tonnes were sold, represented an annual increase of almost 15%.
The increase in annual consumption in Europe represents a volume equal to that produced in Spain for a whole year.
Competitors of Spanish avocados
The Chilean production is estimated at about 210,000 tonnes (5% more than in the 2016/17 campaign), and its focus is on the international market, including both the US and Europe, but also Asia, which has been gradually increasing its purchases, so the European market may again import 90,000 tonnes of Chilean avocados, just like last season.
The general belief is that Mexico is going to export much more towards Europe, although given its way of marketing, there may not be much of an impact on sales.
In Israel, the production may fall slightly more in the case of the mid and late season varieties (Hass and Pinkerton) than in the case of the early varieties (Ettinger, Fuerte). There is potential to export 55,000 tonnes, with approximately 45,000 to 50,000 tonnes going to the EU market (compared to the more than 55,000 tonnes shipped to this destination in the 2016-17 campaign).
Colombia will continue to record strong growth in Europe, despite the opening of the United States, since its export potential in the EU has experienced a very rapid growth, from fewer than 4,000 tonnes in the 2014-15 campaign to more than 24,000 tonnes in 2016-17. The long trading season (October to March, and then from May to June) make Colombia one of the most attractive origins of the winter market.
The Moroccan 2017-18 campaign will be marked by an excellent harvest, both in terms of volume and the size of the fruits. Exports to the EU are expected to reach 15,000 tonnes.
In general terms, we expect the campaign to be similar to the previous one, with a great demand that the producing countries won't be able to cover. The global market has an average growth rate of 150,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes and sales amount to 1.7 million tonnes per year.
Source: axarquiahoy.es
