Global Guava Shortage: How India Can Fill the Supply Gap

Guava, a tropical fruit renowned for its sweet-tart flavor and delightful aroma, plays a crucial role in various food and beverage industries. However, global agricultural disruptions have affected key guava-producing regions, such as Brazil. This has led to shortages and price increases, creating a ripple effect in international markets which rely on guava imports from Brazil. 

With India’s robust guava production, offering a diverse range of guava varieties and sourcing options, it stands as a reliable alternative to mitigate risks and meet the growing global demand.

Why is there a shortage of Guava?

El Niño, driven by warming sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has disrupted weather patterns across South America, severely impacting agriculture. While some regions face droughts and reduced yields, Northern and Western areas have experienced heavy rainfall, leading to flooding, crop losses, soil erosion, and price volatility in agricultural commodities.

Brazil has been at the forefront of guava puree production, but El Niño’s impact on crop yields have affected global availability, quality & pricing. This is prompting clients to de-risk by seeking alternative sourcing regions such as South Africa or India.

Impact of Shortages:Due to the weather conditions, we can expect to see reduced yields and delays in shipments. This could also drive higher prices due to limited availability of guava puree.

Alternate Origins to De-risk Supply Chain

As a result markets are likely to turn to alternative sources such as South Africa or Egypt or India. Sourcing fruits from multiple regions helps reduce reliance on a single origin, ensuring a steadier supply. Diversification also mitigates risks from extreme weather, trade disruptions, and local crises, fostering a more resilient and stable food supply chain.

How India can address the upcoming guava shortage:

To address the upcoming guava shortage, India can be a great alternative source. See below chart on India’s guava production compared to the world.

The image displays the top 10 countries in terms of guava fruit production in 2022 and compares the past 5 years report.

India dominates global guava fruit production, holding the top spot with a significant 44.59% share in 2022.

Global guava production has experienced significant growth over the past decade. Above is a summary of the top guava-producing countries and the percentage change over in the past years(2008-2022)

Guava comparison by origins (Brazil, South Africa & India)

Guava, a popular tropical fruit around the world, has a vast range of flavor and characteristics that vary by its variety and growth conditions. Focusing on pink guava from Brazil, South Africa, and India, we can observe various taste qualities shaped by each region

Brazil has been a preferred choice due to the bright pink color and strong guava flavor profile. However, India has been a reasonable alternative to Brazil.

Guava season in India:

In India, there are 2 crop seasons for guava:

• Primary Season – August, November and December
• Secondary Season – January to March
  The peak guava season runs from August to December, yielding 25-30 tons per hectare.

ABC Fruits Guava Sourcing Regions/Variety:

We source from the following regions with the distinguished Indian varieties.

ABC Fruits Guava production capacity:

Each year, the following volumes of top-quality guava products are produced to meet the needs of our customers

• 10,000 MT of Pink Guava Puree 9bx
• 10,000 MT of White Guava Puree 9bx
• 2,000 MT of Pink Guava Concentrate 18 bx
• 2,000 MT of White Guava Concentrate 18 bx
  With a shelf life of 2 years. These products are always available in storage ready for prompt shipment throughout the year.

ABC Fruits Guava product offering:

ABC Fruits offers both White Guava & Pink Guava Puree single strength in three distinct categories based on the grit content to meet diverse product requirements:

Maximum Grit:
– Process: Use of a 1/32 mesh (0.79 mm) without the use of a decanter.
– Grit Percentage: Usually more than 5%.

Minimum Grit:
– Process: Use of a 1/40 mesh (0.63 mm), inclusion of a decanter, and a bypass process to add grit to the product.
– Grit Percentage: Typically between 3% and 5%.

Gritless Product:
– Process: Use of a 1/40 mesh (0.63 mm) or finer (up to 0.5 mm) combined with 100% decantation to eliminate grit from the puree.
– Grit Percentage: Generally between 0% and 3%.

IQF Guava product offerings:

Final Thoughts

India’s strong guava production capacity, diverse sourcing regions, and advanced processing capabilities position it as a key player in addressing the global guava shortage. With consistent supply, high-quality puree, and concentrate offerings, India can help stabilize international markets affected by disruptions in Brazil and other regions. By diversifying sourcing strategies and leveraging India’s robust agricultural output, businesses can secure a reliable and cost-effective supply of guava products. ABC Fruits remains committed to supporting global demand with premium guava solutions, ensuring uninterrupted availability for manufacturers worldwide.

References:
Source: https://www.tridge.com/intelligences/guava/production