Portugal has gotten on the bandwagon of the global avocado craze. Urbanization in the southern European country is expanding so fast that demand for avocados is skyrocketing. Around 70% of the population lives in towns and cities with a majority of them living in and around the capital, Lisbon.
Consumers in Portugal are beginning to appreciate the buttery, slightly nutty flavor of avocados. While some eat them plain, others blend them into smoothies, use them as a toast topping or add them into their meals. Foreign residents together with young people are credited with popularizing avocados in Portugal.
Portugal Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Portugal is still too low, avocado imports are found in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2021, Portugal shipped in just above 9,000 tons of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2019.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Portugal have enjoyed year on year growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2016 to 2017 at 100%. The peak volume was in the year 2020 at 11,091 tons.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Portugal between 2012 and 2021.
Importing Avocados in Portugal
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Portugal:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Portugal
The avocado import market in Portugal is dominated by Spain. Kenya is the top avocado exporting country in Africa. It has the potential to increase its market share once it gains access. The Portuguese avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Portugal are:
- Germany
- South Africa
- The Netherlands
- Peru
- Colombia
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Morocco
- France
- Mexico
Portugal brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Lisbon 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 Portugal is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Lisbon. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Portugal
Avocado importers in Portugal 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 Portugal:
- 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 Portugal
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 8 hours 30 minutes | 24 days |
| Peru | 11 hours 40 minutes | 30 days |
| South Africa | 10 hours 40 minutes | 25 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.