Jorge Molina
There is quite a lot of dust on the Colombian trails.
Colombia
This week we're visiting different fields in Caldas, Risaralda, and Antioquia, and we're feeling a bit anxious among the producers, who are hoping for some relief from the rain. The rains, which we're used to, are slow in coming. Let's hope this weather pattern passes quickly and doesn't significantly affect our beloved Hass avocados. #AvocadosFromColombia
Exports continue to be primarily destined for Europe, and the year-to-date market share, at 90%, is currently at the same 90% projected for week 38. Prices in Europe for small and medium sizes remain quite attractive. The effects of the Peruvian harvest are beginning to be felt, and today, in particular, we were told that the available fruit from various origins has had to be promoted to sell it and begin receiving newer fruit.
Expectations for the main harvest
The expectation for Colombia is that this main harvest will provide a much-needed boost for Colombian producers and exporters. However, as we've discussed in previous columns, although this main harvest was projected to be large, we don't foresee quantities similar to last year's. This will be regulated by the interplay of several factors: the exchange rate, internal competition for the fruit among different local buyers, and, to some extent, capitalizing on the lessons learned by some prudent producers who have been harvesting in stages and focusing on picking only the fruit ready for export, without succumbing to the temptation of filling containers to take advantage of good prices in the European market.
We continue to see very similar size distributions to previous weeks, with medium size predominating at 50%, small at 30%, and large at 20%. The euro has behaved relatively unchanged from last week, as has the dollar, but currency exchange rates remain quite low for exporters.
Prices of certified fruit
The average price for fully certified fruit is around $4,400 pesos per kilo, and specifically, large ones are paid at $6,000, medium ones at $4,500, and small ones at $3,000. The latter are already showing a purchase price 7% lower compared to the previous week.
We continue to observe how packaging volumes continue to increase at the various exporters and to monitor how prices behave, at least during the next four weeks, and how we arrive at the Madrid trade fair and what its outcome will be.
Closing questions! Crystal ball thinking: How do you see the off-season harvest of 2027? How would this El Niño phenomenon affect the main harvest of 2027? I know the date may be far off, but we have to start looking ahead!
See you later. 🌱🥑
#AvocadosFromColombia #SustainabilityFromTheHeart
Jorge Molina Duque
Operations Manager, Quality Studio CO
jorge.molina@qualitystudio.cl
Colombia
