Better-than-expected results down to favourable climatic conditions, improved fruit set and better growing techniques
Chilean avocado production hit 240,000 tonnes in 2024/25, making it the biggest crop of the last 15 years and the second-biggest ever. According to data provided by the Chilean Avocado Committee, only the 290,000-tonne crop of 2009/10 season topped this season’s results.
The committee’s executive president, Francisco Contardo, said the impressive results far exceeded initial forecasts and were due to favourable weather conditions, improved fruit set, and the implementation of new agricultural technologies.
“These results are excellent news for the sector and reflect the economic impact of our industry, which generates more than US$700mn annually,” he said.
Of the total harvested in 2024/25, 57 per cent was exported. Europe was the main destination, taking 77,000 tonnes or 57 per cent of the total shipment volume. It was followed by Latin America with 25.1 per cent (34,000 tonnes), Asia with 8.6 per cent, North America with 8.5 per cent, and Oceania with 0.8 per cent. The remaining 43 per cent was sold on the domestic market, confirming the avocado’s position as one of Chileans’ favourite foods. In fact, the country is the second-largest consumer of Hass avocados in the world, with per capita consumption of 8.6kg.
Highlighting the industry’s sustainability push, Contardo commented: “This positive performance has been accompanied by constant work since 2020 on a sustainable roadmap, which seeks to align our production with the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda. We want to continue strengthening responsible agriculture, which puts people, communities, and the environment at the centre.”
