The government has temporarily stopped the export of avocados from November 3rd, 2023, to allow the fruits to mature. This move is part of measures to protect Kenya’s profitable avocado export market.

In the notice issued on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) suspended the export of Fuerte, Hass, Jumbo, and Pinkerton varieties by sea, starting this Friday.

However, the HCD has cleared air shipments of avocados, including ones in transit from other EAC nations. The directorate insists that the decision comes after a survey it undertook to authenticate the avocado maturity indices in the main production areas in the country.

HCD acting Director-General Willis Audi said, "Following the findings of the survey, we hereby notify the Kenyan avocado stakeholders that the closing of Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo harvesting seasons and export by sea for the 2023–2024 fiscal year shall be in force with effect from November 3, 2023.

He added that export clearance shall be granted for air shipment, subject to inspection by the Directorate. However, traceability information will be required for all consignments.

The AFA highlighted that it will be monitoring maturity patterns and trends and providing further guidance by mid-January 2024 on the way forward.

Over the years, Kenya has been one of the leading producers of avocados globally, with key export destinations between European countries like the UK, Spain, France, and the Netherlands, Middle East nations like Dubai, Malaysia, and China, and African countries like Mauritius.

Haven’t export volumes been increasing?

Currently, the country features in the list of the top 15 avocado exporters globally, with Mexico being at the top of the list with 2.4 million tons, followed by Colombia, Peru, Indonesia, and the Dominican Republic with 634,000 tons.

Just recently, Kenya sent its first shipment of avocados to India in September 2023. During the inaugural event, Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said that the country will continue seeking more markets for farmers in line with the bottom-up economic transformation agenda.

Kenya's High Commissioner and Ambassador Willy Bett and the High Commissioner for India in Kenya, Ms. Namgya C. Khampa, were among the dignitaries who witnessed the flagging of the first shipment to India.

Dr. Rosebellah Langat,  Christine C. Rotich, Willis Audi, Acting Director of the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD), Cornelly Serem, Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), and AFA's Acting Director-General were also present.

This year, the avocado market has been booming, with high profits seen by the majority of the exporters. For instance, in the half-year to June 2023, Kakuzi has doubled its profits from Ksh 288.6 million to Ksh 654.8 million, with exports to China and Europe peaking.

When will avocado exportation resume?

The notice issued on Tuesday stated that the temporary ban applies to all avocado exporters, processors, and importers working across the Kenyan value chain. This ban comes at a time when the demand for avocados is soaring in the export markets.

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