North Macedonia is an ever-growing importer of avocados in the southeastern European region. This is owing to the rapid urbanization rate in the country. About 60% of the population lives in towns and cities with most of them living around the capital, Skopje.
Avocados are experiencing a consumption boom in North Macedonia. Demand for the fruit is highest among customers in urban areas across the nation. Changing consumer tastes has led to a high uptake of avocado as it is seen to be more nutritious than other common fruits. This trend of eating avocados is showing signs of more growth in the coming years.
North Macedonia Avocado Imports
Considering that avocado production in North Macedonia is non-existent, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, North Macedonia shipped in nearly 400 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 13% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in North Macedonia have enjoyed growth year after year. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2013 to 2014 at 108%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 394 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in North Macedonia between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in North Macedonia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in North Macedonia:
Avocado Supplying Countries to North Macedonia
The avocado import market in North Macedonia is dominated by Greece. Kenya is among the top five suppliers. It has gained in market share from exporting avocados worth 1,000 US Dollars to reach almost 15,000 US Dollars. The Macedonian avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to North Macedonia are:
- South Africa
- Turkey
- Peru
- Spain
- Israel
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Mexico
- Chile
- Colombia
North Macedonia brings avocado from abroad only through its main airport. This is because it is a landlocked country. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Skopje International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in North Macedonia
Avocado importers in North Macedonia must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import permit
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Airway Bill
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to North Macedonia:
- 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 North Macedonia
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 6 hours 30 minutes | |
| South Africa | 10 hours | |
| Peru | 15 hours |
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.