Vietnam eyes US avocado market as Mexico loses out
Avocado prices in the US jumped by nearly 50% in April Donald Trump threatened to shut the US-Mexico border over immigration
Hanoi — Vietnam is seeking to export avocados to the US, the Southeast Asian country said on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump’s threat to shut the US-Mexico border raised fears American consumers could see a shortage. Avocado prices in the US jumped by nearly 50% in April on fears that Trump would halt shipments from Mexico, which accounts for some 80% of its supply. Both processors and wholesalers began to stockpile the fruit as a result. The US imported more than 900,000 tons of Mexican avocados in 2018 worth nearly $2.1bn, 10 times the value it buys from the rest of the world, according to crop forecaster Gro Intelligence. Avocados, typically used in guacamole or spread on toast, could be a high export earner for Vietnam, the government said. Avocado consumption is on the rise in Vietnam as living standards improve, fuelling interest among domestic buyers. “Avocados are increasingly seen as a quality fruit that can be used in cooking and beauty products for women,”...
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