According to a USDA report, Chile is set to produce 220,000 tons of avocados in the 2021-22 marketing year, reflecting a 57 percent increase over 140,000 tons during the 2020-21 marketing year.
The 2020-21 season’s production was hampered by an early frost and drought conditions.
In 2020, the avocado plating area reached over 30,000 hectares with 89 percent consisting of the Hass variety. Valparaiso is the main production region with 20,000 hectares, 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.
The main destinations for the fruit are the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
