The avocado market in Singapore is just as unique as the country itself. With a population growth rate of around 1% per year, Singapore is the second most densely populated nation in the world. The island city-state is so urbanized that there are no real differences between city and country. As new towns have sprung up, the number of those living in rural areas is declining.
Since the weather in Singapore is mostly hot and humid, eating fruits is common in homes and restaurants. The avocado is one fruit whose consumption is on the rise in Singapore. The country has been buying more and more avocados from abroad in the past few years.
Singapore Avocado Imports
Considering that avocado production in Singapore is non-existent, avocado imports are found in the domestic market for most of the year. In 2023, Singapore shipped in nearly 5,800 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 5% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, avocado imports in Singapore have enjoyed year on year growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2013 to 2014 at 40%. There is no data recorded for 2016 and 2017, according to UN Comtrade.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Malaysia between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Singapore
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Singapore:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Singapore
The avocado import market in Singapore has been dominated by Mexico in the recent past. Kenya is among the top five suppliers. The Singaporean avocado market is fed by multiple sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Singapore are:
- Australia
- The United States (US)
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- The Philippines
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- The Netherlands
- Spain
- Indonesia
Singapore brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Changi Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms that keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
The other way avocados enter Singapore is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Singapore The sea port has a huge container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Singapore
Avocado importers in Singapore 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 (except from Mexico)
- Certificate of Origin
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Singapore:
- 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 Singapore
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 9 hours 45 minutes | 18 days |
| Mexico | 21 hours 10 minutes | |
| South Africa | 11 hours 50 minutes | 28 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.