The global craze for avocados is undeniable. Known mostly as a source of healthy fats, an avocado is quite a versatile fruit. Equally, avocados are gaining nationwide recognition in Armenia. Consequently, in such a highly urbanized country, avocado demand is picking up.
Around 63% of the inhabitants of Armenia live in towns and cities with a greater number of them living in and around the capital, Yerevan. Avocados are one of the top selling fruits among urban consumers in the western Asian nation. The impact of healthy food trends, like eating avocado, is strong on Armenia’s traditional cuisine. This is especially true for young people in Armenia as they have more access to information through different media.
Armenia Avocado Imports
Given that avocado production in Armenia is non-existent, avocado imports are found in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2021, Armenia shipped in nearly 180 tons of avocado. It is an increase of 91% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Armenia have recorded growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2015 to 2016 at over 500%. The peak volume was in the year 2021 at 176 tons.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Armenia between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Armenia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Armenia:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Armenia
Avocados from South Africa dominate the import market in Armenia. Kenya is among the top 10 suppliers. It has gained in market share from exporting avocados worth 470 US Dollars to reach 18,730 US Dollars. The Armenian avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Armenia are:
- Peru
- Spain
- Israel
- Colombia
- Chile
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Russia
- Turkey
- Mexico
Armenia brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Zvartnots International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
The main commercial sea ports in Georgia provide access for majority of shipments to Armenia. This is because it is a landlocked country. Avocados reach the country as sea freight by way of either the Port of Batumi or Poti. These sea ports can accommodate large cargo ships and has stations with electrical outlets for refrigerated containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Armenia
Avocado importers in Armenia 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 Avocado from Kenya
Kenyan avocados can be shipped directly to Armenia. Trade relations between the two countries make it possible for Armenian consumers to enjoy them. Moreover, transshipment likely leads to delays during offloading and loading at the intermediate port. Custom duties are imposed all imports and have to be paid before the customs clearance of goods.
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Armenia:
- 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 Armenia
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 6 hours 20 minutes | 21 days |
| Peru | 17 hours 20 minutes | 40 days |
| South Africa | 9 hours 50 minutes | 29 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.