Argentina saw a significant increase in its avocado imports during October, accounting for 95% of the Chilean fruit shipped to South America. This trend is attributed to price variations, market windows, and supply shifts identified by Avobook's data team, amidst simultaneous adjustments in Chile, Peru, and Europe.

The South American market showed a significant shift during October. According to Avobook's data team, Argentina doubled its avocado purchases and ended up absorbing 95% of the Chilean fruit destined for South America that month. This concentration displaced other regional markets and positioned Argentina as the main South American destination for Chilean avocados during that period.

This trend aligns with records from Argentina's National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service, which showed an increase in imports during the quarter. Higher domestic demand, immediate availability of Chilean fruit, and stable Peruvian prices created a favorable environment for purchasing fruit from Chile.

Avobook's data team points out that this movement occurred at a time when Chile was closing its season and Peru was going through a prolonged period of price stability, which contributed to Argentina's preference for Chilean products.

The international context and prices help explain Argentine behavior

Avobook's data team points out that understanding the increase in Argentine purchases requires observing the simultaneous changes in international demand and prices. Europe projects over 42,000 imported containers in 2025, a significantly higher figure than the 36,500 containers imported in 2024, representing an increase of more than 5,500 units.

The increase in European demand impacted the relative availability in the Southern Hemisphere. As detailed by the Avobook team, Chile will ship approximately 4,200 containers of avocados to Europe in 2025, compared to more than 3,300 the previous year—an increase of over 800 shipments that reflects the greater demand from the European market.

In terms of prices, premium Chilean avocados reached their highest values as their season was ending. In contrast, Peruvian avocados entered a prolonged period of stability, with slight fluctuations and no significant variations. Avobook also indicates that Chilean prices reappeared in week 34, with the start of the new season, at levels comparable to those of Peruvian avocados.

There are also significant differences within the Chilean market. Data shows that the Los Lagos Region recorded the highest prices in the country, while Coquimbo had the lowest. In the case of Peru, there was a considerable price jump at the end of September, followed by weeks of stability at relatively high and similar levels across its producing regions.

The combination of these factors—the pressure of European demand, the price dynamics between Chile and Peru, the regional difference within the Chilean market, and the reappearance of Chilean supply in week 34—formed a scenario in which Argentina found favorable conditions to increase its purchases and concentrate most of the Chilean avocado available in October.

With these factors, the month ended with a regional distribution different from usual, marked by strong Argentine participation. It remains to be seen whether this concentration will persist or if it is simply a temporary adjustment within a market that continues to adapt to simultaneous changes in supply and demand.