Ecuador is seeking to join the ranks of major avocado exporters with between 7,000 and 8,600 hectares under cultivation and exports still in their early stages. According to Diana Freile, head of Irubiterra, and Santiago Pinto, director of Iteranza, the country aims to triple its production within five years, consolidate its position in Europe, and open up the US market, leveraging its agro-climatic advantages, logistics, and certifications.

Ecuador, recognized worldwide as a leading agricultural exporter of bananas and shrimp, is beginning to make inroads into a new industry: Hass avocados. While it has not yet reached the volumes of regional giants like Mexico, Peru, or Colombia, the Andean nation is laying the groundwork to become a competitive player in the coming years, leveraging its favorable agro-climatic conditions, logistical infrastructure, and a market-opening strategy.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, shared by Diana Freile, leader of Irubiterra, there are approximately 7,000 hectares planted with avocados in Ecuador. Exports of this area are still in their early stages and generate only about $3 million.

However, private records paint a broader picture. “We have a total of 8,600 hectares planted with Hass and Fuerte avocados, of which approximately 40% are Hass and 60% are Fuerte,” explains Santiago Pinto, director of Iteranza. This area translates into an annual production of around 45,000 tons, although only 8% is exported; the rest is consumed locally.

Geography also makes a difference. Ninety percent of production is concentrated in the northern highlands, in provinces such as Imbabura, Carchi, and Pichincha, while the remaining 10 percent is grown on the coast. In the Andean region, known as the Inter-Andean Valley, crops are cultivated between 1,800 and 2,500 meters above sea level. The soils are volcanic and rich in nutrients, with abundant but not excessive rainfall.

The majority of Hass avocados in Ecuador are grown precisely in these high-altitude areas. These geographical conditions offer nutrient-rich volcanic soils and a favorable rainfall pattern. Rainfall in these areas is abundant but not excessive, allowing for the efficient application of fertilizers and pesticides without the rain washing them away. This results in fewer pest problems, improved crop health, high-quality fruit, and larger fruit sizes.

“This allows for the efficient application of fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in less pest pressure, better crop health, high fruit quality, and larger sizes,” explains Freile.

The sector faces a dilemma: expand its planted area or focus on increased productivity. Currently, orchards yield an average of 5.5 tons per hectare, but the potential is much greater. Pinto explains it clearly: “If we focus on productivity, considering the significant room for improvement, we could grow between 30 and 40% annually on our current acreage. This would allow us to increase production from 45,000 to 150,000 tons in five years, even without considering new plantings.” In the short term, the goals are concrete: to raise the average to 7.1 tons by 2026 and, within five years, to reach between 15 and 18 tons per hectare.

Alongside the focus on productivity, there are also plans for agricultural expansion. The planting of more than 2,000 additional hectares is projected for the next two years. This aims to consolidate trade relations with Europe, the main destination market to date. Russia also receives some of Ecuador's fruit, while Asia is emerging as a medium-term target. "Over the next five years, we will be migrating to the Asian market, where China, South Korea, and Japan could be key destinations, in addition to Southeast Asian countries and India," anticipates Pinto.

The most significant milestone this year came in August 2025, when representatives from APHIS, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, visited Ecuador to verify compliance with the phytosanitary requirements for avocado exports. This is excellent news for the agricultural export sector, as the first shipment of Ecuadorian avocados to the world's largest consumer of this fruit is expected by the end of 2025.

The sector expects the first shipment to this market, considered the largest in the world, to be completed by the end of this year. Freile sums it up succinctly: “From a geographical point of view, the United States represents a natural destination for our exports, considering that the transit time to the nearest port is only five days.”

Beyond the markets, the country is working on a value proposition based on three pillars: quality, certifications, and traceability. Its location on the equator provides unique conditions of light, temperature, and rainfall, which are reflected in the fruit's organoleptic qualities.

This is complemented by a push for certifications of good agricultural, social, and environmental sustainability practices, as well as a reliable traceability system. “We want traceability to be real, not manipulable,” Pinto emphasizes. Although production could remain active year-round, the sector seeks to consolidate its efforts during strategic periods: the last quarter and the first quarter of the year, allowing it to avoid coinciding with the season in Peru, its main regional competitor.

In the logistics sector, Ecuador has a competitive advantage. The country already competes globally with other agricultural and fishing products, such as bananas, shrimp, tuna, flowers, mangoes, and broccoli. Complementing this strength, the country boasts two highly specialized seaports: the Port of Guayaquil and the Port of Posorja. Both maintain excellent trade routes to key markets like the United States and Europe.

“The port of Guayaquil is the main port in South America for international trade, and for us, it’s not that difficult to leverage that experience,” says Pinto. In terms of transit times, shipments take less than 10 days to the west coast of the United States, around 15 days to the east coast, and similar timeframes to Europe.

Despite its relatively small size, Ecuador has one of the most developed road infrastructures in Latin America. This allows for short transport times from production areas to ports, ensuring that the fruit remains in optimal condition, without deterioration or unnecessary delays during transit.

The combination of favorable agro-climatic conditions, logistical capacity, and the opening of new markets positions Ecuador for takeoff. Today, its volumes and exports are modest, but productivity projections, new plantings, and the imminent arrival in the United States mark a turning point. If the country manages to consolidate these steps, in a few years it could cease to be a marginal player and join the select club of major avocado exporters.