From 2020 to 2021, the value of globally exported avocados grew by 13.2% from $6.42 billion during 2020.
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.
The 3 biggest exporters of avocados in 2021 were Mexico, Netherlands and Peru. Added together, shipments from this powerful trio of suppliers accounted for 71.4% of the worldwide value of avocado exports.
Turning to continents, North American countries generated the strongest international sales for avocados during 2021 with shipments valued at $3.1 billion or 43.1% of the global total. In second place were European exporters at 27.3% while another 21.7% of the world’s avocado shipment originated from Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Smaller percentages came from Africa (5%), Oceania (1.5%) mostly New Zealand and Australia, then Asia (1.4%).
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for avocados is 080440.
Avocados Exports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of avocados during 2021.
- Mexico: US$3 billion (40.9% of total avocados exports)
- Netherlands: $1.2 billion (16%)
- Peru: $1 billion (14.4%)
- Spain: $462 million (6.4%)
- Chile: $213.8 million (2.9%)
- Colombia: $204.6 million (2.8%)
- United States: $157.5 million (2.2%)
- Kenya: $140.1 million (1.9%)
- South Africa: $110.5 million (1.5%)
- France: $93.8 million (1.3%)
- Morocco: $89.4 million (1.2%)
- Belgium: $85.2 million (1.2%)
- Dominican Republic: $78 million (1.1%)
- New Zealand: $77.7 million (1.1%)
- Germany: $58.9 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.8% of global avocados exports in 2021.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing avocados exporters since 2020 were: South Africa (up 43.7%), Colombia (up 40.1%), Peru (up 38.1%) and Kenya (up 20.5%).
Four countries posted declines in their exported avocados sales namely New Zealand (down -32.7%), Morocco (down -17%), United States of America (down -4.2%) and Chile (down -2.6%).
Countries Collecting Largest Trade Surpluses from Avocados
The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for avocados during 2021. 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$3 billion (net export surplus up 11.6% since 2020)
- Peru: $1 billion (up 38.1%)
- Colombia: $204.5 million (up 40.1%)
- Netherlands: $143.2 million (up 358.1%)
- Kenya: $140 million (up 20.8%)
- South Africa: $105.1 million (up 47.1%)
- Chile: $87.2 million (down -50.1%)
- Morocco: $82.7 million (down -19.9%)
- Dominican Republic: $77.8 million (up 15.2%)
- New Zealand: $77.7 million (down -32.6%)
- Israel: $54.5 million (down -13.3%)
- Brazil: $14.3 million (up 16.3%)
- Tanzania: $10.9 million (up 41.8%)
- Zimbabwe: $8.7 million (up 282.7%)
- Guatemala: $7.4 million (up 153.2%)
World-leading avocado exporter 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.
Countries Posting Worst Trade Deficits from Avocados
The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for avocados during 2021. 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$3 billion (net export deficit up 25.5% since 2021)
- France: -$445.8 million (up 4.1%)
- Germany: -$335.2 million (up 0.05%)
- United Kingdom: -$294.2 million (down -8.8%)
- Canada: -$251.7 million (up 7.3%)
- Japan: -$222.3 million (down -0.8%)
- Russia: -$132.1 million (up 8.7%)
- Italy: -$106.5 million (up 45.6%)
- China: -$96.4 million (up 34.7%)
- Poland: -$78.7 million (up 20%)
- Switzerland: -$75.5 million (up 8%)
- Norway: -$75.5 million (up 11.4%)
- Sweden: -$58.8 million (down -11.8%)
- Denmark: -$56.3 million (down -4.6%)
- Argentina: -$53.3 million (up 16.2%)
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.
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, Apples Exports by Country and Oranges Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 6, 2022
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on July 6, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 6, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 6, 2022
Wikipedia, Avocado. Accessed on July 6, 2022
Wikipedia, List of avocado dishes. Accessed on July 6, 2022
