Colombia's export volumes continue to decline

This week, according to projections from the Colombian avocado growers' association, approximately 33 containers of our beloved Hass avocados are being shipped out. 55% of this volume is going to Europe, a market that has remained stable for Colombia during this challenging time, apparently due to the low volume of domestic production and the opportunity presented by small and medium-sized avocados, given the limited availability from other origins, especially Peru.

Compared to this time last year, we had 140 containers, with a distribution very similar to this year: 40% to the United States and 60% to Europe. The average purchase price for fully certified fruit, based on the purchase offers we have received, is approximately 3,385 pesos per kilo this week, a weighted average (€0.89 per kilo).

As always, here's an interesting fact: last year, at this same time, the average purchase price for fully certified fruit was 2,418 pesos per kilo, representing a difference of nearly 40%. However, we also saw a much stronger euro, around 4,698 pesos per euro, approximately 20% above the current average rate.

Larger calibers are purchased for 5,200 pesos, medium calibers for 3,400 pesos, and baby calibers for 2,400 pesos. The latter two have seen an approximate 3% decrease in price, while the larger calibers have remained stable, although they continue to be the least sought after for export.

The size distribution of the fruit currently being packed and exported is 16% for large fruit, 40% for medium, and 44% for small. It should be noted that these figures were reported by exporters from a very reliable source and only reflect the packed fruit, as some of the larger fruit is allocated to specific clients or kept for the domestic market.

The exchange rate continues to decline, falling approximately 3% compared to the previous week. We continue to monitor how July unfolds, with the general consensus being that there will be very little fruit production in the coming weeks. The weather shows no significant changes, logistics also remain unchanged, and we continue to closely watch how the political and social landscape evolves with the transition between the incoming and outgoing governments.

Jorge Molina Duque
Operations Manager, Quality Studio CO
jorge.molina@qualitystudio.cl
Colombia