Avocados have definitely gone mainstream in most parts of the world. Besides their global reputation, avocados are now easily marketable in Cyprus. Due to the fast urban expansion in the island nation, demand for avocados is shooting up. Around 67% of the inhabitants live in towns and cities with a huge number of them living in and around the capital, Nicosia.
The rising number of avocado sales mirrors Cyprus’ progress in consumption of the fruit. Given its strategic position on the Mediterranean Sea, the island is a tourist hotspot especially for Europeans. Subsequently, their influence on the locals’ diet is notable. Today, the culture of eating avocados is spreading across Cyprus.
Cyprus Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Cyprus barely exists, avocado imports are found in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Cyprus shipped in around 1,500 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 88% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Cyprus have enjoyed steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2019 to 2020 at 92%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 1,477 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Cyprus between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Cyprus
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Cyprus:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Cyprus
Avocados that are re-exported from the Netherlands dominate the import market in Cyprus. Kenya is the top avocado exporting country in Africa. It has the potential to increase its market share once its gains access. The Cypriot avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Cyprus are:
- Germany
- Greece
- Israel
- South Africa
- Italy
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Lebanon
- Belgium
- Egypt
Cyprus brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Larnaca International 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 Cyprus is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Limassol. The sea port can accommodate large cargo ships and has a section with electrical outlets for refrigerated containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Cyprus
Avocado importers in Cyprus 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 Cyprus. Trade relations between the two countries make it possible for Cypriot consumers to enjoy them. Moreover, transshipment likely leads to delays during offloading and loading at the intermediate port. Since Cyprus is in the European Union (EU), the Single Administrative Document (SAD) is one of the key customs documents for a Cypriot importer.
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Cyprus:
- 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 Cyprus
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 5 hours 30 minutes | 15 days |
| South Africa | 9 hours 30 minutes | 22 days |
| Peru | 16 hours 15 minutes | 37 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.