Fresh papayas market in Central America

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, fresh papaya production in Central America stood at 1 227 thousand tons, with a market size of 1 153 thousand tons. A pre-feasibility study for exporting Costa Rican Pococí hybrid papaya to Canada demonstrated technical and financial viability, indicating growing export potential. The following year, supply in Costa Rica rebounded after climatic setbacks, though regional output dipped slightly to 1 221 thousand tons. By 2020, a significant expansion of papaya cultivation in Costa Rica’s Atlantic region, where new small and large producers emerged, helped lift production to 1 287 thousand tons and market volume to 1 156 thousand tons.

Production continued to rise in 2021, reaching 1 304 thousand tons, supported in part by technology‑transfer efforts in Honduras aimed at improving horticultural productivity. However, the domestic market size contracted to 1 082 thousand tons as exports jumped to 223 thousand tons. In 2022, the release of three improved papaya varieties in Costa Rica—the result of two decades of research—together with Guatemalan growers gaining access to the U.S. market after their region was declared free of Mediterranean fruit fly, pushed production to a peak of 1 344 thousand tons. Market volume recovered to 1 105 thousand tons despite exports climbing to 241 thousand tons.

In 2023, production eased to 1 303 thousand tons and market size declined to 1 069 thousand tons, while exports remained elevated at 236 thousand tons. Price and availability reports from Guatemala pointed to stable conditions for the fruit, reflecting consistent domestic demand.

Production fresh papayas in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of fresh papayas, 2017-2020

World map of production of fresh papayas, 2017-2020

In 2019, Central America produced 1 287 thousand tons of fresh papayas, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 15.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.8%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 at 0.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 with a 9.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports fresh papayas from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

Central America's cross-border shipments of fresh papayas increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region exported 132.8 thousand tons, representing a 38.2% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 15.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 4.9%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 75.7 thousand tons, which also saw the largest decline of 34.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the majority of Central America's fresh papaya exports in volume terms were concentrated in two countries: the United States and Canada, which together accounted for 80.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Central America's fresh papaya export value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 130.5 million US dollars, a 1.7% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value grew by 17.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, virtually all fresh papaya export value from Central America was associated with the United States, which accounted for 95.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Imports fresh papayas to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, Central America's imports of fresh papayas declined. In 2020, the region imported 1.6 thousand tons, a sharp decrease of 44.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 8.7%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 3.0%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 2.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 64.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following two years of gains, Central America's imported fresh papaya volumes declined. In 2020, imports reached 3.4 million US dollars, down 38.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 4.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.4%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 5.5 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 49.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States held the leading position in fresh papaya imports to Central America in value terms, with a share of 1.1%.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020