.

Statistics

Globally, Brazil is the principal producer and trader of this variety, but as the trade of papaya increases, many suppliers are beginning to go into this business. Because of the development of new technologies for this growing and for post-harvest management, papaya growing has become a prominent fruit in tropical zone harvests around the world.

Production and exportation

In 1998 United Nations Agricultural Organization reported an estimated quantity of 5.1 millions of metric tons harvested in the world. This almost doubles the world harvest in 1980.

North and Latin America

U.S. production concentrates on Hawaii. In 1994, field works produced 28,000 metric tons of papaya. Ninety percent of the production goes to fresh fruit market (one of its best selling markets is the internal one). Principally, exportations go to Japan and Canada. In 1998, the U.S. produced 18,140 metric tons and this decrease of production was due to papaya ringspot virus.

Mexico is the biggest producer in this region by achieving 498,000 metric tons in 1998. Additionally, Mexico is the principal papaya supplier to the U.S. and Canada. In 1998, Costa Rica produced 22,000 metric tons and among its principal target markets were U.S. and Netherlands. Jamaica produced 13,700 metric tons exporting its production to U.S. and United Kingdom, but also Dominican Republic produced 15,500 metric tons. There are other important producers, such as Belize and Haiti, which export papaya production to United States. Cuba could produce 15,000 metric tons, but this production was for internal market.

Brazil is the worldwide leading producer of papaya and its principal exportation market is focused on European countries. In 1998, this South American country had a total harvest of 35,000 hectares having an average yield of 48.6 tons per hectare. Therefore, Brazil is the principal papaya producer around the globe. In the same year, its production was 1,700,000 metric tons.

Other important papaya producers in South America were: Peru producing 164,813 metric tons; Venezuela, 88,486 metric tons and Colombia, 64,000 metric tons. Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina also produce this fruit.

Asia and Africa

Nigeria is the principal African papaya producer, which produces 751,000 metric tons. According to a harvest of 90,000 hectares having an average 8.34 tons per hectare, Nigeria is the principal papaya producer, but also South Africa, Congo and Mozambique have taken an important role in papaya growing, even though none of these countries have reported exports to an important target market.

India reports a 40,000 hectare total cultured surface having a production of 450,000 metric tons with a hectare yield of 11.25 tons. There are other Asian producers such as Indonesia producing 336,068 metric tons; China, 149,163 and Philippines, 67,000 metric tons.

The Worldwide Leading Papaya Producers:
(1998)

Source: Faostat Database FAO 1990 - 1998

 

Principal Markets

Generally, the principal consumer markets are controlled by one supplier: The United States which receives the major part of papaya importations from Mexico. However, Brazil is the principal supplier for Europe and finally, U.S. is the first supplier for Japan through Hawaii.

On the whole, papaya markets have gone through a stable development and some papaya importing countries have been optimistic about papaya's future. In the long run, the key to success falls directly on developments of varieties, new growing management advances as well as the development of new technologies for transportation and post-harvest management.

The countries which play a leading role in papaya market are (considering a minimal unit of 1,000 metric tons per year).

Source: Faostat Database FAO 1990 - 1998

 

Future plan for papaya market

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) designed a program of a developmental plan for tropical crop markets based on analysis of fruit importation demand. According to this analysis, exportation market will have a 46% increase based on far east countries' growing demand. This study concludes that U.S. would continue being the principal target market for papaya producers representing 60% of developed countries' consumption.

Mexican Papaya Market

Mexico is the third leading papaya producer of the world, producing 498,000 metric tons. At harvested area rank, Mexico is the fifth papaya harvester, with 17,500 hectares. However, it is the worldwide leader in papaya exports producing 59,638 metric tons. The principal Mexican papaya producing states are: Michoacán, Oaxaca, Jalisco, Nayarit, Veracruz, Yucatán and Chiapas, even though papaya is grown in 22 of 31 states of Mexico.

Even though Mexico is one of the homelands of papaya, its production has just increased few years ago. For many years, a large yellow-flesh creole papaya variety has grown only in south states of Mexico, but it has a short-storage life. In 1970's, Cuba-developed red Maradol variety came to Mexico. In 1991, the first commercial papaya harvest was grown in Chiapas having 20 hectares. In Mexico, this variety has been the principal trailblazer of this growing because of its red flesh, medium size and an excellent long-storage life. In 1998, Maradol papaya growing produced 10,000 hectares (57% of total sowing of papaya) and it increases year by year.

Conclusions

In light of papaya demand increases, either domestic consumption or international, there are great expectations for papaya growing and its excellent profitability seems interesting for Mexican producers due to this fruit can be grown during all seasons in Mexico.

Additionally, it is important to stress that this fruit needs high investment. However, its great profitability is attractive for Mexican agricultural entrepreneurs.

References

Market Asia and RAP Archives
World Market of Papaya

Food and Agriculture Organization
Faostat Database Results

FAO Commodities & Trade Division
Projections to 2005: Tropical Fruits

 

 

Print this page

Print all section