Noted for their smooth texture, avocados have a distinct and subtle flavor used in savory and sweet dishes around the globe. These pear-shaped berries have a high fat content and are popular in vegetarian recipes as a meat-substitute in sandwiches and salads.
Among continents, North American countries generated the strongest international sales for avocados during 2019 with shipments valued at $2.9 billion or 45.3% of the worldwide total. In second place were European exporters at 26.6% while 20.8% of globally shipped avocados originated from Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean. Smaller percentages came from Africa (4.5%), Asia (1.6%) and Oceania (1.3%) mosty New Zealand and Australia.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for avocados is 080440.
Avocados Exports by Country
Countries
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of avocados during 2019.
- Mexico: US$2.8 billion (42.9% of total exported avocados)
- Netherlands: $1 billion (15.9%)
- Peru: $751.3 million (11.6%)
- Spain: $392 million (6%)
- Chile: $300.7 million (4.6%)
- Colombia: $175.4 million (2.7%)
- United States: $154.3 million (2.4%)
- Kenya: $137.8 million (2.1%)
- France: $91.6 million (1.4%)
- Dominican Republic: $86.9 million (1.3%)
- Israel: $73.1 million (1.1%)
- South Africa: $70.8 million (1.1%)
- Belgium: $70.3 million (1.1%)
- New Zealand: $69.6 million (1.1%)
- Morocco: $51.4 million (0.8%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 96.1% of global avocados exported in 2019 by value.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing avocados exporters since 2015 were: Colombia (up 1,607%), Dominican Republic (up 424.2%), Morocco (up 206.6%) and Kenya (up 161.5%).
One country posted declines in its exported avocados sales namely South Africa via its -0.5% drop.
Advantages
The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for avocados during 2019. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported avocados and its import purchases for that same commodity.
- Mexico: US$2.8 billion (net export surplus up 67.8% since 2015)
- Peru: $751.3 million (up 147.3%)
- Chile: $272.6 million (up 87.1%)
- Colombia: $175.4 million (up 1619.5%)
- Kenya: $137.8 million (up 161.5%)
- Dominican Republic: $86.9 million (up 426.1%)
- Israel: $73.1 million (up 38.9%)
- New Zealand: $69.5 million (up 10.8%)
- South Africa: $67.1 million (up 0.1%)
- Morocco: $46.5 million (up 297.1%)
- Spain: $44.9 million (down -53.1%)
- Tanzania: $23 million (up 1683.1%)
- Brazil: $17.9 million (up 193.4%)
- Guatemala: $3.8 million (reversing a -$2.7 million deficit)
- Ecuador: $3.6 million (reversing a -$66,000 deficit)
Mexico has the highest surplus in the international trade of avocados. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms strong Mexican competitive advantages for this specific product category.
Opportunities
The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for avocados during 2019. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported avocados purchases and its exports for that same commodity.
- United States: -US$2.7 billion (net export deficit up 68.9% since 2015)
- France: -$428.7 million (up 82.2%)
- United Kingdom: -$327.5 million (up 101.3%)
- Germany: -$283.4 million (up 142.5%)
- Japan: -$239.7 million (up 56.1%)
- Canada: -$237.8 million (up 52.6%)
- China: -$92.4 million (up 104.9%)
- Russia: -$91 million (up 378.7%)
- Italy: -$75.7 million (up 217.1%)
- Norway: -$64.9 million (up 52.9%)
- Sweden: -$64 million (up 22.9%)
- Switzerland: -$62.3 million (up 95%)
- Poland: -$61.8 million (up 198.9%)
- Denmark: -$56.2 million (up 34.6%)
- Austria: -$36.5 million (up 140.6%)
The United States of America incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of avocados. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights America’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for avocados-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful consumer demand.
Culinary
Avocados-based Foods and Drinks
Avocados are not typically eaten raw. Rather, avocados are used as supplementary ingredients in many dishes, condiments, sauces and beverages. Below, you will find examples of avocado-based culinary foods and drinks.
- avocado bread
- avocado cake
- avocado cooking oil
- avocado cream sauce
- avocado fries
- avocado margarita
- avocado milk coffee drink
- avocado soup
- deep-fried avocado
- féroce d’avocat tangy spread
- guacamole dip or salad dressing
- guasacaca avocado-based sauce
- mashed avocado on toast
See also Bananas Exports by Country, Grapes Exports by Country and Apples Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 2, 2020
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 2, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 2, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 2, 2020
Wikipedia, Avocado. Accessed on May 2, 2020
Wikipedia, List of avocado dishes. Accessed on May 2, 2020