China has gone from being a fledgling importer to becoming a major player in the global fresh avocado trade. In twelve years, its demand has increased more than 300-fold, attracting new suppliers led by Peru, in a context marked by changing consumption habits, logistical variations, and production challenges.

Between 2012 and 2024, China underwent a profound transformation in its fresh avocado market. Although imports fell by nearly 25% in 2024, the country maintains strong demand driven by young consumers who value healthy, convenient, and natural foods. Despite a gradual increase in domestic production, it remains insufficient to supply the local market, keeping China dependent on foreign imports. During this period, imports rose from a mere 154 tons—coming solely from Mexico—to almost 49,000 tons, driven by expanding consumption and the opening of new import countries.

The most significant change was driven by Peru, which in 2024 consolidated its position as the leading supplier with over 37,000 tons shipped. Its growth is supported by agricultural expansion, the use of advanced irrigation, high quality standards, and an increasingly efficient logistics chain, strengthened by the opening of the Port of Chancay, which reduced transit time from 35 to 24 days. Meanwhile, Chile's share decreased due to the effects of drought and the redirection of its exports to other destinations, while Kenya and New Zealand emerged as key players thanks to competitive and consistent production.

The supplier landscape also shifted due to logistical and commercial factors. Kenya quickly rose to become the third-largest supplier, leveraging stable production for much of the year. New Zealand, meanwhile, showed sustained growth supported by high phytosanitary standards and two harvests per year. In contrast, Mexico lost ground due to long shipping distances and higher post-harvest losses, which hampered its competitiveness against countries with shorter routes and commercial strategies better suited to the Chinese market.

Source: portalfruticola.com