Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Avocado industry worldwide - statistics & facts
It is no secret that avocado has become a global sensation in recent years. From guacamole to avocado toast, this creamy green delight has captured the hearts and taste buds of consumers worldwide. As demand skyrockets, production and trade have followed suit, with countries racing to meet it. At the forefront of this green gold rush stands Mexico, the ancestral home of the avocado, which has emerged as the champion of the industry. Its neighbor to the north, the United States, is the leading consumer worldwide.
The avocado industry is likely to continue growing, as demand continues rising. However, avocado production has been affected by the increase in global temperatures and the ever-changing climate. Agricultural producers will need to adapt to the new conditions.
Avocado production and land use
In 2023, worldwide avocado production soared to approximately 10.47 million metric tons, marking a significant 10 percent increase from the previous year and a 106 percent growth over the past decade. Mexico led the production charts with a production volume of over 2.9 million metric tons in 2023, followed by Colombia and the Dominican Republic, with over a million metric tons produced by each. Mexico and Colombia are also the countries with the largest area of avocados harvested, with Mexico harvesting over 253,000 hectares and Colombia harvesting over 106,000 hectares in 2023. Indonesia had the third-largest area of avocados harvested at more than 65,000 hectares.Leading exporters and the role of the Netherlands
Mexico is the largest exporter of avocados worldwide, with an export value that exceeded 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Ranking second was, perhaps surprisingly, the Netherlands, which does not produce avocado, but is an important trading hub for avocados imported into Europe. Between 2013 and 2023, the import volume of avocados into the Netherlands increased by 235 percent, reaching over 385,000 metric tons by the end of the decade. From there, avocados are exported to Germany, France, Spain, Russia, and Poland.U.S. consumption of avocados
The United States is the leading global consumer of avocados. In 2023, the domestic consumption volume of avocados reached over three billion pounds, representing an increase of 55 percent since 2013. The United States also dominates the global import market, with an import value surpassing 3.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023/24. Mexico is its most important trade partner, as it is the origin of 90 percent of the avocado imports. Peru and Colombia are the countries of origin for around five and 2.5 percent of all avocados imported into the U.S., respectively.The avocado industry is likely to continue growing, as demand continues rising. However, avocado production has been affected by the increase in global temperatures and the ever-changing climate. Agricultural producers will need to adapt to the new conditions.
