The Peruvian mango and avocado market has faced setbacks in the 2024/2025 season, from weather problems to logistical complications.

“Mango production in Peru has fallen by 50% compared to previous seasons, mainly due to the lack of rainfall in the north of the country. This has also led to more limited fruit growth, which has taken a toll on the export volumes. Moreover, ripening problems have forced part of the production to be sold on the domestic market, as overripe mangoes do not meet export standards,” says Patrick Early, general manager of Sterling Peru.

In Peru, the mango harvesting season normally starts in December and lasts until February; however, according to Early, “this year the lack of rainfall has caused the season to finish earlier than expected, reducing exports. Also, problems with mildew have been reported in mango crops in the south of the country, in the Casma region, forcing growers to be extra mindful of fruit quality.”

Despite these obstacles, the company has managed to export between 3 and 4 containers of mango a week, with the Netherlands as its main destination. This year, the company expects 30 containers of mangoes to be exported, while in 2023/2024 no exports were made due to weather-related problems.

Competition with Brazil has also had an impact on the Peruvian mango market. Early says that Brazil starts its season a month before Peru, which affects prices and demand for Peruvian products on the international market. “Brazil has pushed hard this year and our prices have been affected by it,” he says.

In the case of avocados, the situation is different. Although there has also been a lower supply, Early says that demand remains strong and prices have increased by 20%, especially in Europe. “The price has improved considerably in the last few months, and in our case, this has partly made up for the lower supply,” he says.

The Fuerte and Hass avocado harvest started in the Peruvian Sierra region in December and will continue until August (for the Hass). This year’s production has been affected by the fall of flowers in some regions, and volumes will be similar to those of the previous season.

One of the major drawbacks has been the lack of boxes to pack the production and the shortage of containers due to the overlap between the blueberry, avocado, and grape campaigns. Early explains that many shipping lines have prioritized the transport of other products, such as meat from Argentina and blueberries, so there has been less space available for mango and avocado shipments. “It has been hard, but we have managed to maintain our exports with a lot of persistence,” he says.

In the case of avocados, five to six containers are being shipped every week, with strong demand in Europe, and the volume will be similar to last year’s, with approximately 60 to 70 containers shipped. “Fuerte avocados have a very solid presence in the European market,” he says.

Early sees stability in the avocado market, although with increasing competition from countries such as Colombia and Africa. “More competitors are appearing every year, but our position remains strong thanks to the quality of our avocados,” he says.

For more information:
Patrick Early
Sterling Peru SAC
Av. Del Pinar Nro. 152 Int. 306 Centro Empresarial el Pin (Chacarilla)
Santiago de Surco
Lima – Peru
Tel.: +(51) 992 819 304
[email protected]