Hass avocado exports grew 21.3 per cent last year, but the average fell by almost 17 per cent
An increase in global supply pushed the average price of Colombian avocados on the international market down by almost 17 per cent to US$1.86/kg last year, according to a new report from Bancolombia.
It said the Colombian avocado sector is at a turning point after several years of rapid growth. Mexico, the world’s biggest producers, saw its export volume grow by 2 per cent in 2025, while Peruvian production grew by 38 per cent compared to 2024.
Overall, Colombia’s Hass avocado exports grew by 46 per cent in volume in 2025, driven by an expansion in cultivated area and entry into commercial production of new plantations. Shipments were valued at US$375mn in 2025, an increase of 21.3 per cent on the previous year. But the higher export volume failed to compensate for the drop in prices, heralding a new era of stronger competition and lower margins for producers.
Colombia currently has around 55,000ha of avocado plantings, of which some 40,700ha are geared towards export. The report warns that the growth of the planted area is beginning to slow down, while the proportion of land in the productive stage is increasing. This implies that future growth will depend less on new plantings and more on production efficiency and the ability of the country to position itself in international markets.
The report notes that Colombia’s future success will be determined by its ability to diversify its export markets. It warns that China, once considered one of the markets with the greatest potential, has failed to live up to expectations, importing just 65,000 tonnes of avocados last year.
Europe remains its number one market, but in recent years Colombia has been making steady inroads in the US, which it considers to be a market of key strategic importance due to its proximity and large per-capita consumption of avocados. At the same time, the Latin American market is becoming increasingly important. South and Central American countries took 39 per cent more Colombian avocados last year than in 2024, but still account for just 0.7 per cent of the country’s total shipments. The report said these markets could become a strategic alternative to alleviate pressure on traditional markets.
Turning its attention to the logistical landscape, the report noted that the opening of the port of Chancay in Peru could improve connectivity with Asia and redefine market dynamics, facilitating access to the Chinese consumer and expanding global demand.
In the medium term, Bancolombia predicts that the Hass avocado market is heading toward greater equilibrium, as supply expansion moderates and demand continues to grow. However, it warns that volatility will remain a characteristic of the sector, driven by seasonal factors and the overlap of production windows among the main exporting countries.
