In week 47, Mexico exported 1,246 shipments to the United States market. This is a stable volume considering that there was one less harvest day this week due to the November 17th holiday. Overall, the market continues to absorb the volume that exporters have been sending, generating a certain stability that, as mentioned before, is far from the stability desired by both producers and exporters.

The open market remains very chaotic, with a large amount of fruit being sold at open prices, either by importers who don't typically handle avocados or being sold off at a discount after several days in refrigeration. This is all happening with constant fluctuations in the sizes that are under the most pressure or that exporters are stockpiling. Last week, it was the turn of sizes 32s and 36s, but sizes 48s also experienced some pressure. Overall, demand leaned more towards sizes 60s and smaller, and despite this, prices at the border could be found up to $4.00 per box below what importers with programs were paying for fresh fruit in these sizes.

The feeling persists that a significant amount of fruit is being harvested without confirmed sales, a situation that is not the most profitable for those involved in the supply chain. November is not typically a peak month for avocado sales; however, a significant volume has been moved for the Mexican industry, which continues to experience its best season to date since exports to the United States began in 1997, based on export volume from July to the present.

The industry as a whole expects fruit demand to improve in December, and some major exporters have already launched promotional campaigns to that effect. Mexico will continue to have sufficient volume to run promotions in the coming months, ensuring it remains the dominant source of fruit during this period. Prices are expected to remain stable or fluctuate only slightly; ultimately, this will depend on demand, and a positive response would be very welcome.

Mexican exports to other destinations, primarily Canada, Japan, and Central America, continue to grow. Statistics also report some exports to Europe, which is not surprising given the low prices for the fruit. What is somewhat unusual is that there are still exporters willing to send fruit to that destination. Let's hope it's a successful campaign for them and helps Mexican fruit gain ground as a reliable source in that market, which continues to experience very attractive growth.

Sergio Paz Vega
General Manager Coliman Avocados
sergio.paz@coliman.com
Mexico