Chile expects bumper avocado crop 

Chile is expected to produce 220,000 tons of avocados in the 2021-22 campaign, a 57% rise from 2020-21, according to a USDA report. The 2020-21 season’s crop was damaged by early frosts and drought conditions.

In 2020, the avocado plating area reached over 30,000 hectares with 89% consisting of the Hass variety. Valparaiso is the main production region with 20,000 hectares, representing 67% of the total planted area, followed by the Metropolitan and Coquimbo regions.

The strong domestic and international demand for avocados has raised prices over the past two years. In the 2021-22 marketing year, domestic consumption is estimated to reach 100,000 tons, representing almost 46% of production.

Last year, Chilean avocado exports fell by 58% in volume year-on-year, to 16,400 tons, and by 50% in value to US$442.8 million. The main destinations for the fruit are the Netherlands, the UK Kingdom, and the US.