Avocado sales hit record $136 million
managing the Northland Dairy Company’s Dargaville site, he moved to Australia in 1999 where he held various roles in Goodman Fielder. . companies in May. The overall market capitalisation of West Australian listed companies increased by just 0.3 per cent in the month to A$153.6 billion ($168 billion), the Deloitte WA Index shows. The stagnant result in the resourcesdependent state came despite an increase in some commodities prices such as nickel, platinum and palladium. Steady gains across base metals were offset by uranium and iron ore’s weak performances. New Zealand avocado sales hit $136 million in the season ended April 30, double the previous season’s, and setting new records in the export and domestic markets.
The return eclipsed the previous sales record of $84.1 million set in 2009-10 and was far in excess of the $60.4 million worth of avocados sold last year, NZ Avocado said.
Jen Scoular, chief executive of the industry group, said the Australian and New Zealand markets had performed very well, and discipline by the market players to match supply and demand had played a big part in the industry’s success.
“Our focus over the last 12 months has been to promote far more collaboration across the avocado industry — with growers, packers, New Zealand marketers, exporters and those supporting our industry,” she said in a statement.
The season had seen the successful amalgamation of New Zealand’s two largest exporters — Primor and Southern Produce — who together formed Avoco. Avoco only exports to Australia, but those two exporters, and Just Avocados, have formed Avanza, which exports to Asian markets.
The Avocado Industry Council, in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries, aims to increase sales to $280 million by 2023.
This season’s return comprised of 4.9 million 5.5kg trays, $102.9 million worth were exported, while $33 million worth were sold in New Zealand. Japan has raised its estimate of January-March quarter economic growth as investment by companies was stronger than first thought. The Government said the economy grew an annualised 6.7 per cent in the quarter. The initial estimate was 5.9 per cent growth. Japan’s economy, the world’s third largest, is expected to contract in the current quarter.