Colombia is heading for a strong end to the season, with a projected 20% increase in its avocado exports, as it prepares to match its share of the US and European markets in the coming years.

With the end of the avocado season approaching, Colombia is preparing for a promising end to the year. The current season has been a period of consolidation and growth, with a number of encouraging projections that paint an optimistic picture for Colombian avocados in both the short and medium term.

In the case of the avocado season, from April to August, it has been, to the surprise of many, an unusually calm period in terms of prices. This is explained by Ricardo Mejía, general manager of Fruty Green, one of the five main avocado exporters in Colombia.

According to him, despite it being a time when lower prices are traditionally observed, the values at which the fruit from his country has been traded have remained at solid levels.

In the case of the railroad tie, there are expectations that "around 80% of exports will go to the United States."

“For the main campaign, which begins in September and extends until February, significant growth is projected. CorpoHass estimates that the end of 2024 could see a 20% increase in exports compared to the previous year. This growth is indicative of a robust campaign, with a possible peak in the months of November, December, and January,” explains Mejía, who has 19 years of experience in the sector.

Projections for the coming years

Given the commercial work that Colombian avocado growers are doing in the United States, one of the projections is that in the medium term the percentages of shipments to that market and to Europe can be equalized.

This is according to Mejía, who points out that "for the next few years, it is estimated that in a period of two to three years, exports to the United States could equal or exceed those to Europe, with a projection of reaching a 50-50 balance in shipments to the United States and Europe."

Logistical and agronomic improvements

Colombia has managed to maintain an upward trend in its exports despite the climatic challenges it has faced, as have other producing countries such as Peru, Mexico, and Chile. This is despite the fact that production per hectare has declined in older plantations.

“One of the most successful strategies has been the renewal of old trees and the planting of clonal varieties, which have allowed us to maintain stable productivity, despite the natural decline of the crops,” he explains.

Colombia is not only focusing on increasing production, but also on improving its position in the global market through infrastructure investments.

To achieve this, one of the levers that will boost its performance is the construction of new ports and the improvement of roads designed to optimize logistics and transport, facilitating access to international markets.

The Colombian avocado industry is at a pivotal moment, with a season that promises to close the year with positive figures and projected growth that opens new possibilities for the future. With strategies focused on market diversification and continuous improvement in production and infrastructure, Colombia is increasingly positioning itself in the global avocado market.