Japan is dependent on avocado imports to satisfy local demand. Its temperate maritime climate with cold winters in the northern area and hot summers in the central area is not suitable for commercial avocado production. The average rainfall is more than 1,000mm per year and temperatures can be as low as 0°C and as high as 22°C.
Majority of avocados sold in Japan are in supermarkets. The biggest number of consumers in the country is found in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka. Smaller retail outlets, wholesale markets and street vendors around Japan also trade in smaller quantities of avocados.
Japan Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Japan were valued at just above 200 million US Dollars in 2021. Even though it’s a slight drop from the previous year, it is the other record high value since 2018. The sharpest climb was from 2015 to 2016 when the import value rose from about 154 million US Dollars to around 211 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Japan between 2012 and 2021.
Avocado Price in Japan per kg
The cost of a kilo of imported avocados in Japan can be between 400 Japanese yen (US2.80 dollars) and 450 Japanese yen (US3.15 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has gone as high as 483 Japanese yen (US3.38 dollars) in the recent past.
Retail prices of avocado per piece vary from seller to seller. Japanese can buy imported avocados for most of the year because they are sourced from a few nations. Market timing also determines the price range as late season avocados get a premium over early season avocados.
Avocado consumers in Japan can also find either good discounts or higher prices depending on the time of shopping. Being a seasonal fruit, avocado prices are adjusted based on supply. Japan imports a bulk of avocado during their summer months from June up to August. It brings in small amounts of avocado the rest of the year from countries whose season comes later.
Avocado in Japan
Japan can be considered a high-value avocado market. The country takes in major commercial varieties such as Hass and Fuerte. But it also brings in minor commercial green skin varieties. Many avocado consumers in Japan prefer Hass avocados that are small in size because of their lower cost.
The type, quality and size of avocado determines its selling price. Even though the dark skin Hass avocado costs more, it is gaining in market share little by little. Avocados of mixed sizes are sold in the domestic market. Avocados exported to Japan are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados to Japan
The avocado import business in Japan is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from South American countries that supply to Japan.
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. Our avocados are organically grown in the most ideal climatic conditions in Kenya.
We source avocados from our company farms and partner farms. Our partner farmers are proud and happy working with us.
Our avocados are cultivated with uncompromising dedication to excellence and freshness. We guarantee optimum maturity of avocados.
We give competitive pricing to our customers.
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 in 4kg cartons for both air and sea freights. We use dry wooden pallets to pack the cartons. Each pallet for sea freight takes 276 cartons while each pallet for air freight takes 144 cartons.
All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.
The avocados in our pack house go through accurate machine selection. The avocados are classified according to dry meter, size, colour and external skin defects.
After packing, we pre-cool our avocados to 5°C in our cold rooms. This reduces field heat immediately after packing.
This process conserves the weight of our avocados preventing them from softening, water loss and wilting. Long shelf life is guaranteed because our avocados stay fresh throughout the supply chain. Our customers are happy because of the high quality of avocado we deliver.
The pre-cooling process is in preparation for shipping. We maintain the cold temperatures and achieve consistent preservation by loading close to the cold rooms.
Our trained staff properly seal the refrigerated containers. Our quality assurance team then confirms before the containers leave the pack house. The avocados are now ready for export.
We ship in controlled atmosphere (CA) refrigerated containers (reefer.)
By working directly with avocado growers and cooperatives, we are able to deliver our produce within a short lead time. We believe that growers grow and exporters export. That is how our growers are able to do what they do best and in return we guarantee superior, quality produce.
Avocado imports have to first go through the Japan Customs. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Administration of Food Safety. The government of Japan sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Bilingual language, which includes Japanese, is required on the label. Labels must include the following information:
- Name and address of producer
- Brand or trademark
- Country of origin
- Type of avocado and grade
- Storage instructions and temperature requirements
- Gross weight and number of avocados per carton
- Shelf life
- Harvest year and packing date
Avocados imported in Japan must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex. The Administration of Food Safety is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.