Brazil’s avocado exports grow more than 400% in the last decade

Written and reported by Camila Gutierrez | Lee esta noticia en Español

Although Brazil ranked among the world’s top avocado producers in 2023—the country ranked in seventh place and accounted for 4.0 percent of harvested volumes—it had a relatively small share of the global market.

According to FAOSTAT, its 26,200 tons produced and US$39.0 million in revenue placed it as the 18th largest exporter worldwide. 

However, the Agricultural Market Bulletin, published on September 11 and prepared by analysts from the Department of Rural Economics (Deral) of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (Seab), reports that this year, avocado was Brazil’s seventh most exported fresh fruit, with shipments worth US$36.3 million and totaling 24,600 tons, sold at an average price of US$1,471 per ton.

“This represented a 432% increase in exported volumes and a 452.2% growth in revenues over the last ten years analyzed. In other words, in 2015, US$6.6 million in revenue was generated from 4,600 tons sold abroad (AGROSTAT/MAPA),” notes the analysis by Agricultural Engineer Paulo Andrade.

Markets for Brazilian avocados

The Netherlands accounted for 41.1% of sales and 36.5% of exported volumes. Argentina followed with 22.3% of revenue and 21.3% of the total exported number, and Spain with 17.3% of revenue and 19.0% of tons. All three countries accounted for more than 80% of revenue and nearly 77% of exported tons.

It is worth noting that in the case of the Netherlands, a large portion of the product is re-exported to other European countries, serving as a redistribution hub for the fruit.

The export surge accelerated driven by Brazilian producers’ strategy to improve avocado quality and participate in international horticulture events, where the national supply has been strongly promoted.

The states with the highest production include São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and the Federal District.

Various varieties are grown in the country, both tropical and subtropical. The most prominent include Hass, Breda, Fortuna, Ice, Margarida, Ouro Verde, and Quinta.

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