The local avocado market in Chile has remained attractive, reducing the importance of the traditional export market, the United States. As of week 36, the export of Chilean avocados has been limited, reaching only 10,000 tons, 46 percent of which went to the U.S.

This shows two changes from last season: the fall in export volume—36 percent less than last year, according to August estimates from iQonsulting—and the diversion of supply, mainly to Chile and Argentina. Last year, the U.S. represented 80 percent of all exports.

Although prices aren’t especially low in the U.S. market, the high yield from California's harvest has kept up with demand on both coasts. On the other hand, the Hass yield from Chile is low, since the fruit recently started ripening.

The prices for Hass avocados in Chile have increased considerably,  reaching CLP 1,092-1,429  per kilogram at the market Lo Valledor on Sept. 14, an average of CLP 1,797  per kilogram in the supermarket, which is 45 percent more than on this date last year.  In the U.S., the supermarket price is $1.17 per unit, which is about CLP 2,500 per kilogram.

The delay in exports to the U.S. is not totally unfavorable for producers and exporters in Chile, since it would allow Chilean exporters to send properly ripened avocados to the United States  to compete better with California stock.

Source: iQonsulting/www.portalfruticola.com