Avocados have become a staple in many people’s and families’ diets around the world. Furthermore, the rich creamy taste of avocado has taken Croatia by storm. Since the southern European nation is very urbanized, demand for avocados is surging. Around 60% of the citizens live in towns and cities with a greater number of them living in and around the capital, Zagreb.
In Croatia, it is apparent that avocado consumers find the fruit delicious. The avocado’s popularity in the country is mainly as a result of the food service industry. Not only are hotels and restaurants seeing a surge in sales of avocado dishes but also retailers are selling more fresh avocados than before. The reputation of avocado in Croatia is spreading even to masses who are not familiar with it.
Croatia Avocado Imports
Considering that avocado production in Croatia barely exists, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Croatia shipped in slightly above 3,000 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 14% from the previous year.
Over the past eight years, avocado imports in Croatia have recorded growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2017 to 2018 at 55%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 3044 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Croatia between 2014 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Croatia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Croatia:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Croatia
Avocados that are re-exported from the Netherlands dominate the import market in Croatia. Kenya is the top avocado exporting country in Africa. It has the potential to increase its market share once its gains access. The Croatian avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Croatia are:
- Italy
- Germany
- Spain
- Slovenia
- Hungary
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Austria
- Greece
- Turkey
Croatia brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Zagreb 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 Croatia is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Rijeka. The sea port can accommodate large cargo ships and has stations for refrigerated containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Croatia
Avocado importers in Croatia 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 Croatia. Trade relations between the two countries make it possible for Croatian consumers to enjoy them. Moreover, transshipment likely leads to delays during offloading and loading at the intermediate port. Since Croatia is in the European Union (EU), the Single Administrative Document (SAD) is one of the key customs documents for a Croatian importer.
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Croatia:
- 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 Croatia
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 7 hours 30 minutes | 20 days |
| Peru | 14 hours 30 minutes | 36 days |
| Colombia | 12 hours 10 minutes | 32 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.