Arabfields, Naïla Mokhtari, Correspondent, São Paulo, Brasil — Peru is strengthening its position as Europe’s leading avocado supplier, with shipments reaching levels that are reshaping competition among the main origins serving the continent.

Peruvian exporters sent about 517,000 tonnes of avocados to Europe in 2025, representing roughly 39% of total European supply. Colombia, the closest competitor, shipped around 134,000 tonnes, leaving Peru with a volume nearly four times larger.

The figures underline how rapidly Peru has expanded its role in a market where consumers have become accustomed to finding avocados on supermarket shelves throughout much of the year. For European retailers, the growth of Peruvian supply has provided additional volumes during the key spring and summer period, but it has also increased pressure on prices when arrivals become concentrated.

In producing regions of Peru, the export boom has become an important source of income for farmers, workers and packing companies. Harvesting an avocado is a simple act, but behind every fruit reaching a European supermarket is a network of growers, seasonal workers, exporters, cold-storage operators and shipping companies whose businesses depend on maintaining quality over thousands of kilometres.

The country’s growing dominance comes as global avocado production continues to expand. World production reached about 11.2 million tonnes in 2024, according to international agricultural data, with Mexico remaining the world’s largest producer. Peru ranked among the major producing countries and has increasingly directed its output towards international markets.

Europe remains particularly important. The region accounted for about 34% of global avocado imports, while European imports reached approximately 963,000 tonnes in 2024. Demand has continued to expand despite periodic price declines caused by heavy supply.

For Peru, the scale of its European shipments creates both an opportunity and a risk. A larger presence gives exporters greater influence in the market, but it also means that a large harvest arriving at the same time as competing supplies from Colombia, Kenya, South Africa and other origins can quickly create downward pressure on prices.

That pressure has already become visible in parts of the European market, particularly when smaller fruit sizes dominate arrivals. Retailers generally have greater flexibility when supplies are abundant, while growers can face weaker returns even when production volumes are strong.

Colombia is emerging as an increasingly important competitor. Its European shipments remain far below Peru’s, but the country’s expanding avocado industry gives European buyers another source of supply and could gradually reduce Peru’s dominance in some periods of the season.

Kenya is also strengthening its position, particularly as European importers look for supply diversification. South Africa remains another established supplier, while Chile is seeking to expand its presence in the market.

The competitive landscape is therefore likely to become more fragmented over the next few years, even if Peru remains the largest supplier. Europe’s avocado market is expected to continue growing as the fruit becomes increasingly integrated into everyday diets, foodservice and ready-to-eat products.

Industry data point to further expansion in global production, with world output expected to approach 12 million tonnes by 2030. If consumption grows at a comparable pace, Peru should retain a strong position in Europe. But the country is likely to face greater competition and more frequent periods of oversupply.

For European consumers, that could mean greater availability and more competitive prices during peak production periods. For growers, however, higher volumes will make market timing, fruit quality and access to premium retail channels increasingly important.

The next stage of Peru’s avocado story may therefore be less about simply producing more fruit and more about managing growth. Investment in cold chains, logistics, market diversification and quality control could help exporters reduce the impact of price swings while maintaining access to Europe’s increasingly demanding retail sector.

Peru’s position at the top of the European avocado market is unlikely to disappear soon. But as Colombia, Kenya, Chile and other suppliers expand, the country will have to defend its lead in a market where abundant supply can be both its greatest strength and its biggest commercial challenge.