Export volume set to recover in the main season, but annual shipments will remain below expected levels
Climate challenges and rising costs have hit Colombia’s avocado sector hard this year. In its latest seasonal update, Westfalia Fruit said the Traviesa season – which typically runs from March/April to August/September – showed a 60-70 per cent drop in production, resulting in aggressive fruit purchasing across the country.
The company noted that higher temperatures and altered rainfall patterns stressed plants during flowering and fruit growth. This led to a lower number of fruits and lower yields per tree, a smaller size profile, higher fruit drop, shifting harvest windows and higher disease and pest pressure.
Westfalia pointed out that while supply for the main season was expected to recover, full-year exports would remain below original expectations.
The annual shipment forecast has been cut back from 6,094 containers to 5,269 containers, a drop of 13.5 per cent. Exports through to the end of June stood at 2,920 containers.
“Despite climate pressure, Colombia’s regional and altitudinal diversity continues to support staggered supply windows and a constructive outlook for the main season,” the company said.
It added that for the rest of the year, “commercial programmes should be planned with a stronger focus on mid and small sizes”.
