Colombian Hass avocado will be marketed in South Korea

More and more Colombian fruits and vegetables increase their participation in the international market. In 2020, the Hass avocado managed to be the second best-selling product in the non-traditional external sales sector.

After almost 6 months of joint work between the Ministry of Agriculture of Colombia, Mincomercio, the Foreign Ministry, Procolombia, and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), access to the South Korean market was achieved.

In this way, South Korea becomes the 26th destination for the Colombian Hass avocado and joins China and Japan as the 3 Asian countries now most prominent in the industry.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in just 4 years (2016-2020) exports to Asia increased more than 250%.

To achieve this success, it was necessary for Apqa (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency), a Korean phytosanitary entity, and the ICA, to carry out studies that finally allowed Colombia to join the United States, Mexico, and Peru in supplying Hass avocado.

According to Jorge Restrepo, president of Corpohass, it is very positive to have these markets open because this will allow diversifying exports and thus reducing the concentration in Europe. The purchasing power, the population size, and the interest in the product in these countries show the great opportunity that exists for Colombia.

The hass avocado export market in 2020 totaled $ 144 million, with 26.045 hectares cultivated, and a production of 155.310 tons, which showed a growth of 5 %, compared to 2019.

The main exporting regions were Antioquia, with 33.108 tons in 2020, followed by Risaralda with 9.316 tons, Bolívar with 8.197, Quindío with 6.673, and Magdalena with 4.357.

The most significant recipients in 2020 were the Netherlands (40.419 tons), the United Kingdom (8.826), Spain (8.761), the United States (3.346) and Belgium (1.902 tons).