Japan is the largest importer of avocados in the East Asia region. Having one of the highest urbanization rate in the world, its no wonder that the country loves the fruit. Around 92% of the population lives in sprawling cities with a greater number of them living in and around the capital, Tokyo.
Eating avocados in Japan is not exoticism any more. The fruit has proved to be a hit with consumers in the Asian nation. Demand for good quality, healthy food like avocado remains strong because Japan is among the world’s leading economies.
Japan Avocado Imports
Bearing in mind that there is no avocado production in Japan, imported avocados are available in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2021, Japan shipped in nearly 77,000 tons of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2018.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Japan have recorded steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2015 to 2016 at 28%. The peak volume was in the year 2020 at 79,560 tons.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Japan between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Japan
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Japan:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Japan
The avocado import market in Japan is dominated by Mexico. Kenya is the top avocado exporting country in Africa. It has the potential to take some of the market share once Japan allows access. The Japanese avocado market is made up of a few of sources.
The other key avocado supplying countries to Japan are:
- Peru
- The United States (US)
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Chile
Japan brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Narita International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
The other way avocados enter Japan is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Tokyo. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Japan
Avocado importers in Japan must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import permit
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Japan:
- 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 Japan
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 14 hours 30 minutes | 33 days |
| Mexico | 14 hours 40 minutes | 78 days |
| Peru | 19 hours 45 minutes | 76 days |
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.