ProHass warns of climate impact on Peruvian avocados

The Peruvian Hass avocado industry is facing a season marked by unusual weather conditions that could alter production and export projections for 2026. According to José Antonio Castro, president of ProHass, the high temperatures recorded on the country's coast are accelerating the ripening of the fruit and affecting its size, especially in the main producing areas of northern Peru.

Minimum temperatures are between 3°C and 5°C above the historical averages of the last 45 years, resulting in atypical behavior in the orchards. Although exports had accumulated an 8% increase up to week 20 compared to the previous season, Castro warned that the initial expansion expectations might not materialize. Furthermore, in several production areas, a higher proportion of smaller fruit is being observed, a direct consequence of the climatic impact associated with the El Niño phenomenon.

The accelerated ripening process is also causing harvests to begin earlier, which would mean the Peruvian season ends three to four weeks earlier than usual. If this scenario is confirmed, Europe would be the market most affected by reduced fruit availability during August and September, the period in which Peru traditionally concentrates a large part of its shipments. Given this situation, ProHass has called on exporters to act cautiously to avoid a temporary oversupply that could lead to sharp price drops.

Faced with production challenges, the industry maintains its focus on quality as its main competitive advantage. Along these lines, Peru recently raised the minimum dry matter requirement for exports from 21.5% to 22%, seeking to ensure a better consumer experience and strengthen the product's position in international markets. According to Castro, in a scenario of increasing global competition, maintaining high quality standards will be fundamental to preserving the prestige Peruvian avocados have achieved in recent years.

Source: portalfruticola.com