Mexican avocado exports to the Chinese market in the first half of the year were greater than they were in all of 2017.

Sales through June totaled 9,368 metric tons (MT), 7% more than the total for last year, according to local media El Financiero [in Spanish].

Late last year Chinese authorities announced the import tariffs for fresh and dried avocados would be reduced from 10% to 7% effective as of Dec. 1. That followed an earlier drop from 25% in January 2016. 

"The demand from China has increased and the price level has remained very stable for [Mexican] growers," said Juan Carlos Anaya of agriculture consultancy Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas.

"Also, production increased in 2017, and that has allowed us to supply both the export and domestic markets."

Steve Zhao, CEO of Chinese distributor Dynasty Universe, has been diversifying his offering and this year began to import Mexican avocados.

He said acceptance of Mexican avocados is growing in China.

As well as the tariff reduction last year, Anaya said bilateral relations have improved between the two countries recently.

"The visits made by President Peña Nieto and various officials to China [have helped to boost trade in general], and I think that both ProMexico and the Foreign Affairs Secretary have resulted in a good campaign," he said.

In 2013, Mexico shipped only 939MT of avocados to Mexico, the article said.