Camposol

Camposol Holding has reported first quarter sales of US$60.5m, up 49 per cent on the year-earlier period. The company said the improvement was due to an increase in sales volumes of frozen mangoes and grapes, as well as rising prices of fresh mangoes, preserved white asparagus and shrimps.

The company’s volume sales reached 24,359 tonnes, up 34.3 per cent on the first quarter of 2013, the bulk of the increase coming from higher volumes of frozen mangoes and grapes. Average price rose by 10.7 per cent on the year-earlier period, reaching US$2.48 per net kg, the company reported. As of 31 March, the company maintained a cash balance of US$25m.

Camposol said the long-term growth prospects for exotic fruits and vegetables markets are excellent and that it expects to see good demand for all fresh produce in general and for avocados specifically in both the US and Europe.

“Avocados and mango are growing, with headroom for increased per capita consumption in key markets,” the company said in a press release. In the case of asparagus, although consumption is table, supply is falling due mainly to reduced exports from China.”