The avocado market in Oman is rapidly opening up to the world. It has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, swelling at a rate of around 2.6% per year. Citizens of Oman are primarily urban spread out across the towns located on the coastline.
Avocado consumption in Oman is rising due to a massive addition in imports over the past few years. Many Omani consumers are now more aware of what they eat which means avocados are a regular part of their diet. All indications are that the Omani avocado market is expected to widen further in the years to come.
Oman Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Oman is non-existent, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Oman shipped in around 1,500 tonnes of avocado. It is a decrease of 5% from the previous year.
Generally, over the past decade, avocado imports in Oman have seen notable growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2015 to 2016 at 242%. The peak volume was in the year 2019 at 2,182 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Oman between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Oman
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Oman:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Oman
Avocados that are re-exported from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dominate the import market in Oman. Kenya was the largest supplier in 2015 and 2016. Avocados from Uganda are also gaining in their share of the total imports.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Oman are:
- Mexico
- The United States (US)
- South Africa
- The Philippines
- Chile
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- The Netherlands
- Australia
- UK
Oman brings avocado from abroad through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Salalah. The sea port has a huge container terminal.
The other way avocados enter Oman is through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Muscat International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they head towards the market.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Oman
Avocado importers in Oman 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 Oman:
- 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 Oman
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 5 hours | 10 days |
| US | 16 hours 30 minutes | |
| Mexico | 18 hours 45 minutes |
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.