The avocado market in Hong Kong is huge. This is because of its rapid population growth rate of around 1% per year. The special administrative region of China is highly urbanized with more than half of the citizens living in the new towns that have sprung up.
The demand for avocado is highest on Hong Kong Island as a big part of the population is concentrated there. Since life in Hong Kong is very modern, more and more consumers are finding new ways to include avocados in their diet. Their preference for fresh produce has led to an increase in avocado consumption in the country over the past few years.
Hong Kong Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Hong Kong is non-existent, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most of the year. In 2023, Hong Kong shipped in about 27,000 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 19% from the previous year.
In the last decade, avocado imports in Hong Kong have been growing steadily. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2015 to 2016 at 115%. The peak volume was in the year 2021 at 29,506 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Hong Kong between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Hong Kong
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Hong Kong:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Hong Kong
The avocado import market in Hong Kong is dominated by Chile. Kenya has been among the top five suppliers in recent years which makes it possible for avocados from Kenya to make up more of the total imports. The Hong Kong avocado market is characterized by a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Hong Kong are:
- Mexico
- Peru
- Australia
- The United States (US)
- South Africa
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- New Zealand
- The Netherlands
- Israel
Hong Kong brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Hong Kong International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms that keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
The other way avocados enter Hong Kong is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Hong Kong. The sea port has a huge container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Hong Kong
Avocado importers in Hong Kong must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import license
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Hong Kong:
- 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 Hong Kong
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 11 hours 30 minutes | 25 days |
| Chile | 23 hours 45 minutes | |
| Mexico | 18 hours 10 minutes |
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.