The avocado market in Uruguay is going through a phase of accelerated growth, marked by a sustained expansion of consumption, greater diversification of origins and the emergence of new players who are redefining its competitive structure.

According to data from the Avobook team, Uruguay imported approximately 5,300 tons of avocados in 2025, with a projected 20% growth for 2026, bringing the volume to approximately 6,840 tons. This increase confirms a clear trend: avocados have ceased to be a niche product and have become an increasingly mass-consumption food.

The breakdown in consumption: pandemic and changing habits

This growth is not accidental. According to Ignacio González, head of Foreign Trade and Purchasing at Almar SRL, and Valeria Urgoiti, general manager, the turning point came with the pandemic.

“The main shift in consumption occurred from 2021 onwards. In that year, approximately 1.7 million kilos were imported, and in 2025 we reached 5.3 million. It was exponential growth,” he notes.

The change is largely due to a transformation in consumption habits. Greater awareness of healthy eating, coupled with the availability of information, has boosted the avocado as an alternative to traditional fats, positioning it as an everyday product in the diet.

Added to this is a key factor: accessibility. Almar SRL emphasizes that growth was also linked to expanding their offering beyond supermarkets, bringing the product to local markets and neighborhood stores, thus broadening their reach to new consumers.

One of the most relevant changes in the Uruguayan market is the advance of Brazil as a supplier.

While its presence was practically nonexistent in 2015, by 2025 it had reached nearly 1.8 million kilos of imported produce, positioning itself as the country's second most important source. Today, according to Avobook data, Brazil accounts for 34% of imports, second only to Chile (49%) and ahead of Peru (16%) and Mexico (1%).

According to González, this growth is due to a structural change in the regional supply: “Brazil is becoming a major player. Today there are many more companies exporting, with a level of professionalization that we didn't see before.”

Furthermore, the business dynamics have also changed. “Before, we were the ones who sought out suppliers. Today, they are the ones who approach us directly, showing interest in the Uruguayan market,” he adds.

Beyond volume, Brazil has gained ground due to a key advantage: logistics.

“Transit from Brazil is much faster. You can have the product in Uruguay in three or four days, while from Peru or Mexico it can take between 15 and 20 days, with more complex operations,” explains González.

This proximity reduces costs and time, making it a particularly competitive source, even though quality is still being established. However, Almar SRL points out that this gap has been narrowing over time.

Another structural change is the transformation of consumption in terms of continuity. Avocados have gone from being a seasonal product to one with year-round demand.

“Before, it was a product from August to January. Today, the market demands that you have avocados available all year round,” González points out.

This new scenario forces importers to diversify their origins and anticipate market movements with greater precision. Managing the coexistence of different harvests—from Chile, Peru, Brazil, and even local production—becomes crucial to avoid stockouts, especially during transition periods.

In parallel, local production initiatives are beginning to emerge in Uruguay, still in initial stages but with potential.

Currently, there are emerging projects with varieties like Hass, which have grown from very small volumes—around 600 boxes in their first year—to nearly 2,500 in the last season. While they are not yet competitive in scale, they could supply specific periods of the year, particularly between May and July.

At the regional level, new players are also emerging, such as Paraguay, which plans to start exporting around 2027–2028, which could add more competitive pressure in the future.

Market growth has also been accompanied by greater sophistication in operations.

In the case of Almar SRL, their experience as the main importer of bananas in Uruguay has allowed them to develop ripening infrastructure, which today represents a competitive advantage.

“We can preserve and mature the product according to demand, which allows us to handle large volumes and ensure quality for the market,” they explain.

Looking ahead, the Uruguayan avocado market shows clear signs of expansion, but also of greater complexity.

The projected increase in imports, the consolidation of Brazil, the diversification of origins, and the incipient local production create a more competitive scenario, where planning, logistics, and the ability to adapt will be key.

In this context, Uruguay is ceasing to be a marginal market and is positioning itself as a growing destination within the regional avocado map, driven by a demand that, by all indications, will continue to rise.