Avocado monthly review: February 2019

Europe imported more than 9 million boxes of Hass avocado in February 2019, i.e. 25 % more than in 2018 and 29 % above the two-year average. While these figures are less impressive than for January (62 % above average), they are able to confirm the big increase in avocado production and imports year on year, at the moment even during the winter campaign. However, this increase in volumes is largely due to a late start to the campaign by Chile, which attempted to make up for the delay by stepping up its weekly shipments (+ 42 % on February 2018 and 16 % above the two-year average). The Mediterranean origins set new records: Israel registered a 16 % rise on February 2018 while Spain maintained historically high levels. The supply was topped up by Mexico, which also shipped large quantities (35 % above average), and by high volumes from Colombia.

For its part, demand was invigorated by promotions and by retail prices at levels 9 % below average. Yet these measures were not sufficient to take in all these volumes, and Hass prices dropped to 21 % below average.

The green varieties market was very well supplied too (34 % on the two-year average), with in particular Israeli Pinkerton (+ 69 %) and Spanish Fuerte at the end of the campaign (+ 16 %). Peru had a hesitant start to its campaign (- 32 %). Because of heavy volumes and stable demand, prices remained unchanged (- 20 %).

avocado - france - import price