The rehabilitation of the Port of Buenaventura carried out by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) will allow exporters to ship Hass avocado to the United States and Argentina through said port, reducing logistics times and costs for producers and exporters. "Hass avocado has been classified as one of the main drivers and strengtheners of the national economy," said Deyanira Barrero, the general manager of the ICA.
In the future, Colombia hopes to reach new markets, such as China, Japan, South Korea and Chile, countries with which the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institute is carrying out admissibility processes for Colombian agricultural products. This alternative also reduces terrestrial transit times and tariffs by up to 50% for internal freight.
"The rehabilitation of the Port Society of Buenaventura, as a terminal to export Hass avocado to the United States and Argentina, represents a great benefit for exporters, as this is the natural port of the Coffee Region and the Southwest of the country, where there are more than 9 Hass avocado packing plants," said Rodolfo Ahumada, the commercial manager of Pacific Fruits.
Prior to the opening of the new site in Buenaventura, producers had to send the fruit to the east coast of the United States through the ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla, which required they pay higher transport, packaging, logistics, and personnel costs.
