The third week of the year marked a milestone for the U.S. avocado market, with a total of 1,843 shipments, representing a 15% increase compared to the previous week and a 13% increase compared to the same week last year. This volume not only sets a record for the season so far but also surpasses levels recorded since the middle of last year, solidifying an upward trend in demand.

The market showed a clear dominance of Mexico, which accounted for 91% of total shipments, registering an 11% increase compared to the previous week. Colombia, although with a modest 3% share, showed a slight decrease of 2%. California, meanwhile, is beginning to gain relevance, reaching 5% of the market and anticipating an earlier start to the season compared to previous years.

Regarding prices, the larger sizes remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease of 3%, interrupting the upward trend observed in previous weeks. However, the smaller sizes were the most affected: size 70 saw a 15% drop, while size 84 decreased by 14%, marking the largest price reductions.

Regarding this scenario, Sergio Paz noted that as inventories reach optimal levels, Mexican fruit prices could adjust downward. However, he also anticipated that February could bring higher prices, a historical trend in the market. This adjustment will depend, in part, on weather factors impacting various regions of the United States, which could alter both supply and demand in the coming weeks.

In his most recent column for Avonews , titled "Avocado Demand in January: An Optimistic Outlook , " Antonio Villaseñor highlighted the importance of this month for the U.S. market, driven by events like the Super Bowl. According to Villaseñor, week 4 will see a harvest availability of approximately 58,000 hectares, guaranteeing a steady supply of the fruit. However, he cautioned that the size distribution remains unchanged, with a greater prevalence of medium and small sizes, a challenge that could significantly impact price dynamics.

See the complete breakdown of figures and weekly trends in the global avocado market, with up-to-date data from all origins and markets. Access the Avobook Premium Report . Subscribe at avobook.com !