Mauritius has developed from a low-income agricultural based economy to a middle-income diversified economy. The country is booming and the population is swelling at a rate of about 0.1% per year. These factors combine to make it a fast growing destination for avocados in Africa.
Demand for avocados by consumers in Mauritius has risen considerably over the past 10 years. As a result, Mauritius has been increasing its capacity to import more avocado year after year. Once considered an exotic fruit, today, the avocado has become a staple in the Mauritian diet.
Mauritius Avocado Imports
Seeing that avocado production in Mauritius is non-existent, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2021, Mauritius shipped in almost 75 tons of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2016.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Mauritius between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Mauritius
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Mauritius:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Mauritius
The avocado import market in Mauritius is dominated by South Africa. In 2020, avocados from South Africa accounted for about 93% of the total imports. In the same year, Kenya was the third largest supplier accounting for 3% of the total imports.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Mauritius are:
- Spain
- Egypt
It imports avocado in small quantities from countries like:
- The Netherlands
- France
- Peru
Mauritius brings avocado from abroad through its main sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port Louis Harbour. The sea port has facilities to handle containers.
The other way avocados enter Mauritius is through its main airport. Avocados come in as air freight by way of the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and separate warehouses for perishables.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Mauritius
The government of Mauritius sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the National Plant Protection Office (NPPO)
Avocado importers in Mauritius must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- NPPO import permit
- Supplier invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Bill of Entry
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Inspection
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Mauritius:
- 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 consistent avocado production year after year.
Average Transit Time of Importing Avocados in Mauritius
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 4 hours 30 minutes | 8 days |
| South Africa | 4 hours 20 minutes | 8 days |
| Spain | 12 hours | 25 days |
| Egypt | 8 hours 15 minutes | 17 days |
Here is one of the top avocado exporters 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.