Kenya Resumes Avocado Exports

Kenya has resumed its avocado exports, after lifting of the ban that had been imposed on the product earlier in January this year.

Business Daily reports that a 4 kilogram carton is selling at KSh1,760, compared to KSh1,100 at the same period last year. The high prices are attributed to the high demand of the Kenyan variety of the produce.

Currently, Kenya is the only country that is producing the Fuerte variety of avocados.

The ban has been lifted and we have already started the exports of avocado with the first ship leaving over the weekend.

Ojepati Okesegere, CEO of Fresh Producers Consortium of Kenya

In January this year, Kenya suspended the export of the produce indefinitely, after reports of premature exports emerged. However, the issue has been resolved, with the directorate of horticulture noting that effects of climate change may cause the fruits to attain maturity either earlier or later than planned.

Kenya exports its avocados to China, Spain, Germany, Russia and the Middle-Eastern countries. The crop contributes 7% of the total fruit export to the world market. The European Union countries account for 42% of the Avocado exports, while the Middle East accounts for 28%.