Colombia became the second largest exporter of avocados in Latin America

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, avocados have become one of the top choices for healthy eating, according to the World Economic Forum. Latin America now accounts for 75 percent of global avocado production, and the region is a world leader in avocado exports.

Mexico's avocado production more than doubled from 1.1 million tonnes in 2010 to 2.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. Colombia has also seen a surge in avocado production in recent years. In 2015, Colombia produced 309,852 tons of avocados. By 2020, that number had increased to 876,754 tons, making Colombia the second largest supplier of avocados in Latin America. Colombia is now on track to overtake Africa and Asia as the world's leading exporter of avocados.

Colombia is the fifth avocado producer to gain access to the Chinese market, after Mexico, Peru, Chile and New Zealand. In July 2020, the first batch of Colombian avocados arrived in the Chinese market, with 48 tons imported that year. Subsequently, Colombian avocado exports to China showed an erratic trend, soaring to 247.7 tons in 2021 and only 17 tons for the whole of 2022.

Nearly 70 percent of avocados imported into the country now come from Peru, followed by Mexico and Chile. With the relaxation of epidemic control and the gradual recovery of international logistics, Colombian avocado exports to China are expected to enter a new stage.