Avocados are Latvia’s newest fruit craze. More and more people in the country want a piece of the globally recognized superfood. Owing to the fact that the northern European nation has a large urban population, demand for avocados is escalating. Around 70% of the inhabitants live in towns and cities with a majority of them living in and around the capital, Riga.
Avocado consumption in Latvia is soaring just like in her nearest European neighbors. Presently, a sizable number of Latvians know about the fruit while some of them have tasted it at least once. In addition, the number of those eating avocados regularly is going up every year. The avocado is finding its place among the most beloved fruits in Latvia.
Latvia Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Latvia is non-existent, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2021, Latvia shipped in close to 4,000 tons of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2019.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Latvia have enjoyed steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2017 to 2018 at 19%. The peak volume was in the year 2020 at 4,046 tons.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Latvia between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Latvia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Latvia:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Latvia
Avocados that are re-exported from the Netherlands dominate the import market in Latvia. Kenya is the top avocado exporting country in Africa. It has the potential to increase its market share because Latvia imported 22 tons of Kenyan avocados worth about 45,000 US Dollars in the year 2020. The Latvian avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Latvia are:
- Germany
- Lithuania
- Belgium
- Spain
- Uganda
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Italy
- France
- The United Kingdom (UK)
Latvia brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Riga 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 Latvia is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Riga. The sea port can accommodate large cargo ships and has stations for refrigerated containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Latvia
Avocado importers in Latvia 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 Latvia. Trade relations between the two countries make it possible for Latvian consumers to enjoy them. Moreover, transshipment likely leads to delays during offloading and loading at the intermediate port.
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Latvia:
- 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 Latvia
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 8 hours 40 minutes | 35 days |
| Peru | 15 hours 10 minutes | 40 days |
| Colombia | 13 hours | 35 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.