Australian avocado harvest surges, fueling record exports and steady domestic demand

Australia experienced a high-yield avocado year, but unlike past seasons, the fruit found buyers both at home and abroad. Brent Chambers of the Avocado Collective noted that most Shepard avocados from Queensland were exported early to secure better prices for growers. Lawrence Massasso, a Far North Queensland grower and Avocados Australia director, said weekly supplies of 600-650,000 trays now clear without issue, supporting lower retail prices of about 90 cents per fruit.

Rabobank analyst Michael Harvey forecast national production could approach 170,000 metric tonnes, with Queensland supplying roughly half and export share hitting 30 percent. Key overseas markets include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, with Japan and Thailand emerging. A smaller 2027 crop in Western Australia is expected to tighten prices temporarily, but production should rebound in 2028.