Avocados are becoming ever more popular in Maldives. This is due to the fact that the South Asian nation is experiencing a rapid population growth rate of 2% per year. Such a boom in the number of inhabitants is turning Maldives into a promising market.
Avocado consumption in the Maldives is picking up steam. International tourists are the ones who have introduced the goodness of avocados to local people. Since they regularly flock the island nation in huge numbers, they ask for avocado in their meals or as a snack. Moreover, consumers in Maldives now enjoy avocados alongside their locally grown fruits.
Maldives Avocado Imports
Imported avocados are found in Maldives for most part of the year because avocado production in the country is non-existent. In 2021, Maldives shipped in slightly above 300 tonnes of avocado. It is a slight increase of about 2% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Maldives have recorded growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2020 to 2021 and it was a six-fold increase. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 304 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Maldives between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Maldives
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Maldives:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Maldives
Avocados that are re-exported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dominate the import market in Maldives. Kenya is among the few avocado producing countries that supply to Maldives. It has gained in market share from exporting avocados worth 1,090 US Dollars to reach about 12,000 US Dollars. The Maldivian avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Maldives are:
- Australia
- Sri Lanka
- Germany
- The Netherlands
- India
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Uganda
- South Africa
- Turkey
Maldives brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Velana 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 Maldives is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Male. The consignment is then transported to the Hulhumale International Terminal which has stations with plug points for refrigerated containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Maldives
Avocado importers in Maldives 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
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Maldives:
- 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 Maldives
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 5 hours 30 minutes | 10 days |
| Australia | 9 hours 15 minutes | 26 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.