Avocados
Avocados are one of the most in-demand fruits globally, fueling a booming trade market. Yet, for small and medium-sized growers in Latin America and Africa, market instability, fluctuating prices, and supply chain challenges create significant barriers to success.
At SAFTA, we ensure that avocado exporters receive fair, stable prices and transparent trade conditions—allowing them to grow sustainably without being at the mercy of market swings.
Avocado trade challenges
For avocado growers and exporters, price fluctuations are not an occasional challenge—they are a constant reality.
Demand in Europe remains strong, but market instability makes predicting earnings from one season to the next difficult. A promising price at the start of the harvest can collapse by the time shipments arrive, leaving growers struggling to cover costs.
While external factors such as weather, logistics, and production cycles play a role, the biggest disruptor is the sheer unpredictability of the global supply chain.
Price instability is not new to the avocado trade—it has been a recurring challenge in recent years. The following examples illustrate just how quickly the market can turn against growers.
2022
2022
In 2022, a 30% increase in Peruvian avocado exports created an oversupply in Europe. The market could not absorb the extra volume, and prices fell sharply across key markets.
Growers who had planned for stable returns found themselves selling at a loss, unable to cover their costs.
A Market Flooded, Prices Tumbled
2023
2023
In 2023, European avocado prices fluctuated by up to 33% within just eight months.
The year started strong, but as more shipments arrived mid-season, prices fell again. Exporters who had secured contracts early were safe, but those relying on spot market sales faced steep losses.
Price Swings of Up to 33%
2024
2024
In 2024, avocado shipments to Europe surged 17% in a single month, with Chile leading exports.
As a result, smaller avocado sizes saw significant price drops in markets like Amsterdam, leaving exporters with lower margins than expected.
Oversupply Led to Price Drops for Small-sized Avocados
When Prices Drop, Growers and Exporters Pay the Price
Market volatility isn’t just an economic concept—it has real, immediate consequences for those producing and exporting avocados. In conversations with hundreds of growers and exporters, the impact of collapsing prices was clear:
Lost investments – Growers spend months on labor, fertilizers, and irrigation, only to sell at a loss when prices drop unexpectedly. Some are forced to leave fruit unharvested because it costs more to pick than they can sell it for.
Debt and financial strain – Many exporters pay upfront for shipping, customs, and storage, hoping to recover costs once their avocados arrive in Europe. If the market shifts mid-transit, they lose money before even making a sale.
Disrupted livelihoods – A bad season doesn’t just mean lower profits—it can mean an entire year’s income disappearing overnight. Some growers are pushed out of business entirely, while others struggle to pay wages or reinvest in their farms.
Uncertain future – Unpredictable earnings discourage long-term investment in infrastructure, sustainability, and innovation. Many small and medium-sized growers can’t afford to take another risk if the market turns against them again.
For many, the avocado trade has become a gamble, not a business—and without stability, the risks are too high to sustain.
You Work Hard. You Deserve Stability.
You put everything into your harvest—your time, your resources, your future. But when prices drop, you’re the one left carrying the loss. It shouldn’t be this way.
At SAFTA, we make sure you’re never alone in the trade cycle. Our model protects growers and exporters from market swings, securing fair pricing and stable income, so you can focus on growing, not just surviving.
How SAFTA makes a difference
SAFTA was created to eliminate uncertainty for avocado exporters, ensuring that growers and sellers get fair, stable pricing and reliable market access.
Stable Pricing Model → SAFTA’s pricing is based on real production costs and fair margin (FOB+), not market speculation. This means exporters get predictable income instead of gambling on price swings.
Direct Access to Buyers → With SAFTA Plus, we connect exporters to reliable European buyers, ensuring they get fair contracts instead of relying on middlemen or uncertain market conditions.
Logistics & Trade Support → SAFTA Standard helps exporters navigate shipping costs, customs regulations, and compliance, reducing unexpected costs and delays.
SAFTA Rescue → When shipments get stuck at ports due to delays or compliance issues, SAFTA steps in to resolve the problem, protecting exporters from financial losses.
By focusing on fair pricing, stability, and real support, SAFTA allows growers and exporters to focus on what they do best—producing top-quality avocados—without the fear of sudden market collapse.
SAFTA vs. Fairtrade: Two Approaches to Fairer Trade
Fairtrade and SAFTA both aim to support farmers, but they take very different approaches.
Avobook
Make better decisions with a weekly email aggregating global avocado export data to give exporters actionable insights.
Current import prices and volumes are from the most important markets, such as the US, Latin America, Europe, and China.
Export volumes of the main origins and projections for the coming weeks.
More useful avocado resources
