Chile is expected to ship 220,000 tons of avocados during the 2021-22 season, reflecting a whopping 57 percent increase over 140,000 tons during the 2020-21 year.
Chilean avocado exports are primarily to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The 2020-21 season’s production was plagued by an early frost and drought conditions.
In 2020, the avocado plating area reached over 74,132 acres with 89 percent consisting of the Hass variety. Valparaiso is the main production region with 49,421 acres, representing 67 percent of the total planted area, followed by the Metropolitan and Coquimbo regions.
The strong domestic and international demand for avocados has raised prices the past two years. In the 2021-22 marketing year, domestic consumption will reach 100,000 tons representing almost 46 percent of production.
From January to May 2021, the average price for avocado increased significantly due to the seasonality of Chilean production and lower domestic supply as a result from reduced production in the 2020-21 marketing year.
Chilean avocado exports decreased by 58 percent in volume year-on-year totaling 16,400 tons and by 50 percent in value totaling $442.8 million.