Switzerland is coming up as a leading destination for avocados in Central Europe. This is owing to the fact that the country is very urbanized. Around 75% of the inhabitants live in both smaller and larger cities as a big number of them have populated the city of Zurich.
The avocado business in Switzerland is gaining more access due to a rise in consumer interest. There is now better knowledge among consumers in the central European nation of the many health benefits of avocado. Since Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, avocado consumption is getting a boost from those living in urban areas who have a higher disposable income.
Switzerland Avocado Imports
Imported avocados are found in Switzerland for most part of the year because avocado production in the country is non-existent. In 2021, Switzerland shipped in nearly 19,000 tons of avocado. It is an increase of 75 tons from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Switzerland have recorded growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2015 to 2016 at 22%. The peak volume was in the year 2021 at 18,979 tons.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Switzerland between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Switzerland
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Switzerland:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Switzerland
The avocado import market in Switzerland is dominated by Peru. Kenya is among the top 10 suppliers. It has gained in market share from exporting avocados worth 200,000 US Dollars to reach about 1 million US Dollars. The Swiss avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Switzerland are:
- Chile
- Spain
- Mexico
- Israel
- South Africa
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Colombia
- Morocco
- Dominican Republic
Switzerland brings avocado from abroad only through its main airport. This is because it is a landlocked country. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Zurich Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Switzerland
Avocado importers in Switzerland must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import permit
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Airway Bill
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Switzerland:
- It has a longer season that lasts from February to October.
- Production costs are low therefore avocados from Kenya are competitively priced.
- Most of Kenya is covered by a sub-tropical climate which ensures consistency of quality and supply.
Average Transit Time of Importing Avocados in Switzerland
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 8 hours 10 minutes | |
| Peru | 13 hours 45 minutes | |
| South Africa | 11 hours |
Here is a top avocado exporter in Kenya.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Kenyan avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.