U.S. import volumes of avocados had a big year in the 2022-23 marketing year, and Mexico commanded nearly 90% of the volume, trade numbers reveal.
According to data from the USDA, total avocado import volumes (marketing year September through August) increased 14% from 1.01 million metric tons in 2017-18 to 1.265 million metric tons in 2022-23.
Mexico accounted for most U.S. avocado imports, with the volume of Mexican avocados increasing 23% from 881,705 metric tons in 2017-18 to 1.12 million metric tons in 2022-23.
In 2022-23, Mexico’s share of U.S. avocado import volume was 89%, up from 87% in 2017-18.
Peru was the second-largest source, with volumes fluctuating between 71,176 metric tons and 128,301 metric tons over 2018 to 2022, before dropping 39% to 78,296 metric tons in 2022-23.
U.S. imports of Chilean avocado volume declined steadily from 28,158 metric tons in 2017-18 to just 3,877 metric tons in 2022-23, a 50% decrease between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The Dominican Republic saw a small 3% increase in avocado imports between 2021-22 (40,325 metric tons) and 2022-23 (41,381 metric tons).
Colombia’s avocado volume to the U.S. grew from 144 metric tons in 2018 to 18,642 metric tons in 2021-22, before dropping 25% to 13,931 metric tons in 2022-23.
Unit value trends
While U.S. import volume of avocados increased in 2022-23, unit values declined, according to the USDA.
For Mexico, the USDA reported unit values increased from $2,591 per metric ton in 2017-18 to a peak of $3,444 per metric ton in 2021-22, before dropping to $2,230 per metric in 2022-23 (down 35%). Higher volumes of shipments to the U.S. played a role in lower per unit value, USDA trade numbers indicate; Mexican avocado volumes to the U.S. increased 23% from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
For Peruvian avocados shipped to the U.S., the USDA said unit values dropped 14% from $2,184 per metric ton in 2017-18 to $1,923 per metric tons in 2022-23. Peruvian volumes decreased by 39% between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The USDA reports that the total value of U.S. imports of Mexican avocados grew from $470 million in 2009-10 to $2.5 billion in 2022-23, with a peak import value of $3.2 billion in 2021-22.
