USDA: Another step up for Mexican avocado output
Mexico’s 2024 avocado production is forecast at 5% up over 2023, according to a new USDA report.
The Mexican avocado annual report, issued in early April, pegged the country’s avocado production in 2024 at 2.77 million metric tons, up from 2.65 million metric tons in 2023 on strong export demand.
Exports will continue to grow in 2024, according to the report.
The U.S. is the top market for Mexican avocados, accounting for 81% of total export shipments. The U.S. is followed in importance by Canada, Japan and Spain, according to the report.
Mexican avocado output has grown dramatically in the last decade, fueled by global demand for avocados. The USDA said production grew nearly 75% between 2014 and 2023, reaching 2.65 million metric tons and making Mexico the No. 1 avocado producer globally.
Mexico’s avocado exports totaled 1.4 million metric tons in 2023, up 17% compared to 2022 exports of 1.2 million metric tons.
“Although export volumes increased in 2023, the value of exports decreased 12% due to appreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar,” the report said. “Additionally, local producers report lower prices in 2023 due to smaller average fruit size that they attribute to climatic conditions, including above average temperatures and drought conditions seen predominantly in northern Michoacán.”
Production growth
The USDA projects continued near-term production growth is supported by favorable growing conditions in Mexico and a shift away from traditional crops to higher-value avocados.
“The past five years have seen a significant increase in avocado production, especially in the Valley Region of Jalisco, as producers diversify their crop mix to include avocados, or completely eliminate corn, wheat, and pasture area in favor of avocado orchards,” the report said.
With planted area growing 46% between 2014 and 2023, the government of Mexico estimates Mexican avocado planted area (i.e. area with mature, productive trees) at nearly 636,500 acres in 2023, up 2% from 2022.
The report said Michoacán leads Mexico with 73% of production, Jalisco follows with 12% and the state of Mexico accounts for 5%. Jalisco was first allowed to ship its avocados to the U.S. market in July 2022, joining Michoacán in supplying the U.S. market.
As of February 2024, there are 58 avocado packing facilities in Michoacán approved for export to the U.S., and 11 such facilities in Jalisco, according to the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico, the report said.
Seasons in the sun
Local producers report that in Mexico each avocado tree can produce 165 to 175 pounds of fruit per flowering, with trees flowering twice per year, according to the report. Trees need about eight years to start producing fruit, and some growers have trees that are 50 years old and still producing.
The report said Mexico’s two main avocado seasons are “La Loca” (June through September), the primary flowering period, and “La Normal” (September through February), the main fruit production period.
Mexico is the No. 1 avocado supplier to the U.S., the report said, accounting for 89% of U.S. avocado imports, followed by Peru (6%) and the Dominican Republic (4%).
Hass is the top export variety for Mexican avocado producers, with a greater than 90% share, followed by the criollo, fuerte and, more recently, the mendez variety.
Mexico’s 2023 avocado exports comprised 96% fresh product, 3% guacamole and 1% pulp for further processing. The December to February timeframe accounts for 33% of exports, with the Super Bowl being one of the biggest demand drivers for Mexico’s avocado exports to the U.S.
Avocados ranked fourth in value among Mexico’s agricultural exports in 2023, after beer, tequila and berries.
