Botswana is a major importer of avocados in the South African region. The country is demanding more avocados, especially in the recent years, in light of their much praised health benefits. The avocado’s popularity in Botswana is spreading even into the rural areas.
Consumers in Botswana have grown to love avocados. The green fruit is being consumed at a faster rate than other fruits that are well known in the country. Avocados have become easily available in the local market because Botswana is bringing in more of them grown on foreign soil. The Botswana market is showing signs that it will expand in years to come.
Botswana Avocado Imports
Seeing that there is no commercial avocado production in Botswana, avocado imports are found in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Botswana shipped in 260 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 5% from the previous year.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Botswana between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Botswana
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Botswana:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Botswana
Over the last 10 years, avocado imports in Botswana have enjoyed steady growth. The sharpest climb in volume was recorded from 2019 to 2020 at 118%. The peak volume was in the year 2016 at 390 tons.
The avocado import market in Botswana is dominated by South Africa. In 2023, avocados from South Africa accounted for about 89% of the total imports. Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tanzania were the other countries to export avocados to Botswana in that same year.
Apart from South Africa, Kenya was the only other supplier of avocados to Botswana in 2010 and 2011. This is why it is possible for avocados from Kenya to make up more of the total imports. Botswana has also imported a small batch of avocado from Zimbabwe in the past.
Botswana brings in a bulk of avocado across its border with South Africa. Avocados get into the country as road freight through one of the key border crossing points. It is Pioneer Gate Border Post located on the Botswana side and Skilpadshek Border Post situated on the South African side. The country has four other commercial border posts which offer the potential for avocados to come in as road freight.
The other way avocados enter Botswana is through its main airport. Avocados come in as air freight by way of the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. The airport can handle international cargo.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Botswana
Avocado importers in Botswana must have a trading license and present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import permit
- Certificate of origin
- Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificate
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Botswana:
- 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 consistent avocado production year after year.
Average Transit Time of Importing Avocados in Botswana
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 4 hours | |
| South Africa | 1 hour 20 minutes | |
| Tanzania | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Here is one of the top avocado exporters 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.