Michoacán avocado production falls 27 percent amid resumed US exports

The Mexican state of Michoacán has concluded its 2025-26 avocado season with a production total of 1.46 million tonnes, representing a 27 percent decrease from the previous season's 2 million tonnes. Despite the lower local production, Mexican avocado imports into the United States saw a record-breaking increase of 32 percent compared to the last campaign.

Export activities to the United States have recently resumed following an eight-day suspension triggered by security concerns. The pause, which impacted approximately 200,000 industry employees, ended after more than 1,500 soldiers were deployed to protect cultivation areas. Following the deployment, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors resumed phytosanitary controls and fruit certification.

Security remains a persistent challenge for the sector in Michoacán, where criminal groups engage in extortion and theft. While inspectors have returned to certifying fruit, their presence has shifted from orchards to focusing primarily on packing plants to ensure quality and safety standards are met for continued export.