Growing demand for Peruvian avocado in Japan

2020 was a difficult year for avocados in the Japanese market. After a sustained increase of 13% in 2016 and 2019, last year, imports from Japan totaled 79,560 tons valued at $224 million, which means a growth of 3 % in volume and a drop of 7 % in value compared to the previous period.

For Japan, Mexico is the main supplier of avocados with 86% participation. In 2020, this country has supplied the Asian market with 68,514 tons for $ 190 million, which is 3% less in volume and 12% less in value compared to the previous year.

The Mexican avocado shortage in the Asian market favored Peru in 2020, as it had to increase Peruvian avocado imports to meet growing domestic demand. Thus, in 2020, Japan imported 8,360 tons of Peruvian avocado for $ 24 million, which is 87 % more in volume and 68 % more in value compared to 2019.

The growth of imports from Peru resulted in price contractions (-10%), reaching $ 2.84 per kilo. Despite this, the price achieved in Japan is still higher than the price in the main markets: the Netherlands and the United States, with $ 1.90 and $ 2.50 per kilo, respectively.

source: agraria.pe

photo: rpp.pe