The focus on avocado in Montenegro is rising. One of the main drivers of avocado market growth in the country is the high urbanization rate which stands at around 70%. A big part of the population in Montenegro is concentrated in the capital, Podgorica and other smaller cities and towns.
Avocado consumption in Montenegro is going up. Since the nation is a popular tourist hotspot in Europe, it has to import avocados because they are among the most sought-after fruits. As more locals in Montenegro discover the health benefits of eating avocado, demand for the fruit is expected to spike in the years to come.
Montenegro Avocado Imports
Imported avocados are available in Montenegro for most part of the year since there is no avocado production in the country. In 2023, Montenegro shipped in around 260 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 45% from the previous year.
Over the last 10 years, avocado imports in Montenegro have enjoyed year on year growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2020 to 2021 at 45%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 259 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Montenegro between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Montenegro
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Montenegro:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Montenegro
The avocado import market in Montenegro is dominated by South Africa. Kenya is among the top five suppliers. It has gained in market share from exporting avocados worth 3,000 US Dollars to reach almost 100,000 US Dollars. The Montenegrin avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Montenegro are:
- Israel
- Spain
- Peru
- Greece
- Turkey
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Mexico
- Italy
- Brazil
Montenegro brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Podgorica Airport. The airport has cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
The other way avocados enter Montenegro is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Bar. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Montenegro
Avocado importers in Montenegro 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 Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Montenegro:
- 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 Montenegro
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 7 hours | |
| South Africa | 10 hours | |
| Peru | 15 hours 40 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.