Peruvian Avocados: Global Leadership and Key Challenges for Sustainability

Established as the second largest global exporter, the Peruvian avocado industry faces climate and logistical challenges, while working on opportunities for expansion and diversification.

Peru closed the 2024 season with 550,000 tons of Hass avocados exported, positioning itself as the world's second-largest exporter. José Antonio Castro, president of ProHass, highlighted the importance of this industry not only for the foreign exchange and jobs it generates, but also for its impact on international markets, leading with a 41% market share in Europe and exporting to 69 countries. Under his leadership, ProHass seeks to increase the association's representation and work together with the government and Senasa (National Agrarian Health Service) to open new markets in Asia and Oceania, diversifying products such as frozen avocados and oils.

Among the main challenges for the industry are production costs, climate change, and logistical constraints, in addition to the entry of new international competitors. To address these challenges, Castro emphasized the importance of economic sustainability, promoting improvements in productivity and export quality, as well as strengthening the promotion of Hass avocados in markets with high per capita consumption potential.

In addition to consolidating its leadership in international markets, ProHass is working on key trade agreements, such as the recent one with China for the export of frozen avocados. These developments aim to ensure a more competitive and diversified industry, positioning Peru not only as a major exporter of fresh fruit, but also as a leader in value-added products.

Source: agraria.pe