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Trade corridor · Hass avocados

Hass avocados from Peru to the Netherlands, Spain and the United States: season, specs and controls

Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team

Short answer

Peru supplies Hass avocados from April to September, with peak availability in July and August (CBI, December 2025). The Netherlands and Spain are among its largest buyers. Avocados entering the EU need a phytosanitary certificate under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, and the US has admitted Peruvian Hass since January 2010 under a systems approach.

  • Peru's national standard NTP 011.018:2025 raised the minimum dry matter for export Hass to 22%; many European ripeners consider 23% ideal.
  • European trade commonly uses 4 kg cartons, sizes 12–32, with 16–18 (sometimes 20) preferred.
  • Indicative sea transit Callao–Rotterdam: about 29 to 34 days.
  • SENASA reports more than 55,000 certified hectares; eligibility still depends on each orchard and destination.

Market research, not SeedMatch inventory: this page summarises public, dated sources. SeedMatch Group does not hold avocado stock; supply is sourced only after a buyer's request is reviewed.

What is confirmed and what to check before shipping

ItemStatusWhat the sources show
US access for Peruvian HassConfirmedAPHIS final rule of 4 January 2010: registered sites and packhouses, fruit-fly and seed-moth controls, SENASA inspection, certificate with additional declaration.
EU phytosanitary certificateConfirmedRegulation (EU) 2019/2072 Annex XI Part A lists Persea americana (ex 0804 40 00) from third countries.
Minimum dry matterConfirmedNTP 011.018:2025 sets 22% (INACAL, 30 July 2025). Destination enforcement depends on the contract and buyer.
Latest consolidated EU annex textTo confirmThe current consolidated version on EUR-Lex is dated 6 July 2026; its Persea americana entry could not be retrieved for this review. Check it before shipping.
Orchard and packhouse eligibility per destinationTo confirmConfirm the SENASA registration and destination programme of each supplying site.

At a glance

Product
Fresh Hass avocados
Origin authority
SENASA, Peru
Destinations
Netherlands and Spain (EU import and redistribution hubs); United States
Season
April–September; peak July–August
Pack
4 kg cartons; sizes 12–32 (16–18 preferred in Europe)
Transit to Rotterdam
About 29–34 days by sea (indicative)
Volume reference
433,000 tonnes exported in the first six months of 2025 (SENASA)

Season

Shipping windowPeak stated by a sourceIndicative Peruvian Hass shipping window

Peru fills Europe's summer: April to September, with the most fruit in July and August. Chile, Spain and Israel take over in the European autumn and winter.

Plan ripening-room capacity for the July–August peak and agree weekly volumes in advance.

Sizes and quality

  • Size codes are fruit counts per 4 kg carton, typically 12 to 32; European buyers often prefer 16–18 and sometimes 20.
  • Dry matter: 22% minimum under Peru's NTP 011.018:2025; many ripeners consider 23% ideal for ready-to-eat programmes.
  • Agree count range, dry matter and defect tolerances in writing.

Packaging

  • 4 kg cardboard cartons are the common European format.
  • For the US, confirm the carton format and labelling with the importer.

Cold chain and ripening

  • UC Davis gives 5–13 °C for mature-green avocados depending on cultivar and storage time, and 90–95% relative humidity.
  • Long sea transits need agreed set points and atmosphere; ripeners condition the fruit on arrival.
  • Ask for temperature records for the whole voyage.

Phytosanitary and import controls

European Union

A phytosanitary certificate is required for avocados from third countries (Annex XI Part A, Regulation (EU) 2019/2072). Netherlands and Spain apply EU rules at entry.

United States

Commercial consignments only, from registered and monitored sites and packhouses, with fruit-fly and seed-moth controls and SENASA inspection; the certificate carries an additional declaration.

SENASA certification

SENASA certifies orchards and consignments; certification for one destination does not make a site eligible for every destination.

Fields to put in a commercial RFQ

Ask every exporter to answer the same fields so offers are comparable.

  • Destination (Netherlands, Spain or US) and port of discharge.
  • Count range per 4 kg carton and tolerance.
  • Minimum dry matter and sampling method.
  • Ripeness at shipping and ready-to-eat requirements.
  • SENASA registration of orchards and packhouse for the destination.
  • Weekly volume across April–September.
  • Reefer set point, atmosphere and temperature records.
  • Incoterms and payment terms.

Who buys

  • Importers and ripeners in the Netherlands and Spain who redistribute across Europe.
  • Supermarket ready-to-eat programmes supplied through ripeners.
  • Wholesalers and foodservice distributors; US importers in the summer window.

Destinations compared

The same Peruvian fruit faces different entry rules depending on the destination.

DestinationEntry basisTypical buyerNote
NetherlandsEU certificate (Annex XI Part A)Importer-ripeners, redistributionRotterdam about 29–34 days
SpainEU certificate (Annex XI Part A)Importers, ripeners, retailAlso a European producer in winter
United StatesAPHIS systems approach (2010)Importers, retail programmesOverlaps with Mexico's year-round supply

Frequently asked questions

When is the Peruvian avocado season?

April to September, with peak availability in July and August.

Do avocados need a phytosanitary certificate for the EU?

Yes. Avocados from third countries are listed in Annex XI Part A of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, which requires a phytosanitary certificate.

What dry matter does Peru require?

22% minimum under NTP 011.018:2025. Many European ripeners consider 23% ideal.

Which sizes do European buyers prefer?

Sizes 16–18 per 4 kg carton, sometimes 20, within a range of 12 to 32.

Does SeedMatch Group sell Peruvian avocados?

No. This page is market research. SeedMatch Group runs a buyer-first, human-reviewed request process; programmes are sourced through its parent group's marketplace, Global B2B Group, without direct buyer–exporter contact.

Planning a programme on this route?

Send a private, specification-led request: fruit, variety, grade, pack, treatment route, arrival window and weekly volume. A sourcing specialist reviews it before any exporter is approached. Free for buyers; managed programmes from USD 250,000.

Send a managed fresh produce RFQ

Fruit and other food commodity programmes run through Global B2B Group, the parent group's buyer-first marketplace. Global B2B Group

Cold storage, ripening rooms and refrigerated logistics infrastructure: ColdMatch Group. coldmatchgroup.com

Related

Sources

Official and industry documents reviewed on 25 October 2026, with their publication dates.

Next step

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