South Africa: Strong Domestic and Export Demand Drives Growth in South African Avocado Plantings

The production of avocados in South Africa is estimated to decrease marginally by 2 percent to 130,000 Metric Tons (MT) in the 2020/21 MY, based on the cyclical on-year and off-year nature of avocado production. South African avocado production has experienced exceptional growth in the past four decades, from 1,500 MT in the 1969/70 MY, to the peak production of 169,243 MT in the 2017/18 MY, primarily due to increase in plantings, exponential export and domestic demand. Europe remains the principal market for South African avocado exports, accounting for 92 percent of the total exports. South Africa is under increasing pressure to acquire new markets for its avocados, and currently is prioritizing efforts to gain market access in the United States, Japan, India and China. This is expected to diversify exports from Europe, and to absorb the anticipated future increases in production.

South Africa: Strong Domestic and Export Demand Drives Growth in South African Avocado Plantings