COMPETITIVENESS IN AVOCADO EXPORTS FROM MEXICO, PERU, COLOMBIA, CHILE AND INDONESIA: AN ANALYSIS WITH THE BALASSA AND VOLLRATH INDICES (1991–2023)

Abstract

This study investigates the international competitiveness of avocado from Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Indonesia during the period from 1991 to 2023, employing a dual-index approach combining Balassa’s Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Vollrath’s competitiveness framework, including Revealed Export Advantage (RXA), Revealed Import Penetration (RMP), and Relative Trade Advantage (RTA). The findings demonstrate a robust and sustained comparative advantage for Mexico in avocado exports, with RCA values consistently above unity. RXA indices show increasing export strength, while RMP values indicate declining import dependence, resulting in a net trade advantage reflected in positive and rising RTA values over time.