South African avocado growers expect to ship just short of 21mn cartons of fruit this season, an improvement on the previous campaign.

In what has been described as a tough season, observers said they are pleased with the volume results.

However, marketing conditions have been difficult due to supplies from Peru to Europe, which remains the main South African marketing arena.

In the past years South Africa has gained greater access to markets in the East, but this has not dramatically affected market distribution.

“In China the situation remains difficult due to supplies from Peru and in India we still contend with high import tariffs which makes it hard to compete against fruit from Tanzania,” said Derek Donkin of Subtrop.

Growers in the late season will now most probably focus their marketing on the local market, which has been growing in leaps and bounds over the last few years.

“South African consumers have really embraced avocados as a regular part of their shopping basket, and bulk pacts are boosting this trend,” noted one retailer.

During December and January, South Africa normally imports fruit from countries such as Tanzania, but from February to November/December the country supplies enough of its own product to meet its needs.

Reference Link, Fruitnet News