As with the North American and European markets, Japan is reportedly experiencing somewhat of an avocado shortage that is seeing prices reach record heights. 

Publication Nikkei Asian Review reported that as well as reduced harvests in growing areas like Mexico and Peru, swelling demand in China and the U.S. was also at play.

The retail price for an avocado in Japan has risen from the 100- to 150-yen (US$0.83-1.25) range in March to the 150- to 200-yen range today. And the price is still rising.

In 2016, Japan imported 74,000 metric tons (MT) of the fruit, up 2.5 times from a decade earlier, the story reported.

In the U.S. consumption has more than doubled over the past decade and in China imports reportedly leaded from around 4,000MT in 2014 to more than 25,000MT last year, Nikkei Asian Review reported.

Avocado's explosive popularity in China has made Japanese wholesalers nervous, according to the story, as they believe that China could soon take over Japan in avocado consumption.

"It's not just avocados," a representative of a top Japanese avocado importer was quoted as saying.

"Demand for any product posts explosive growth once Chinese start buying."

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com