South Korea depends heavily on avocado imports to fulfil local demand. Its temperate climate with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers prevents commercial avocado production. The average rainfall is more than 1,000mm per year and temperatures can be as low as -2°C and as high as 25°C.
A bulk of imported avocados sold in Korea are found in supermarkets. The biggest number of consumers in the country is found in the cities of Seoul, Busan and Incheon. Smaller retail outlets, wholesale markets and street vendors around Korea also trade in smaller quantities of avocados.
Korea Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Korea were valued at around 33 million US Dollars in 2023. Compared to the previous year, it is a decrease of 24%. The sharpest climb was from 2016 to 2017 when the import value rose from about 12 million US Dollars to around 30 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Korea between 2012 and 2023.
Avocado Price in Korea per kg
The cost of a kilo of imported avocados in Korea can be between 5,000 South Korean won (US3.60 dollars) and 6,000 South Korean won (US4.32 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has gone as low as 4,400 South Korean won (US3.16 dollars) in the recent past.
Just like any fruit, retail prices of one avocado vary depending on the seller. Koreans 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 Korea 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. Korea 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 Korea
Korea 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 Korea 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 Korea are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados to Korea
The avocado import business in Korea is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from South American countries that supply to Korea.
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 Korea Customs Service. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA). The government of Korea sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Bilingual language, which includes Korean, 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 Korea must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex. APQA is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.