Sweden is securing its position as an important destination for avocados. This is bearing in mind that the urbanization rate in the country is high. Around 88% of the citizens live in towns and cities and a huge number of them are located in and around the capital, Stockholm.
Avocados have now cemented themselves in modern Swedish lifestyle. Consumption of the fruit has grown on pace with Sweden’s broader economy and society. The avocado’s popularity in Sweden has been driven by changing perceptions of those living in urban areas and the younger generation.
Sweden Avocado Imports
Considering that there is no avocado production in Sweden, imported avocados are available in the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Sweden shipped in just above 17,000 tonnes of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2016.
Basically, in the last 10 years, avocado imports in Sweden have enjoyed steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2016 to 2017 at 10%. The peak volume was in the year 2020 at 21,936 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Sweden between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Sweden
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Sweden:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Sweden
Avocados that are re-exported from the Netherlands dominate the import market in Sweden. Since the year 2016, Kenya has gained in market share. From exporting avocados worth US1,000 dollars to reach about US140,000 dollars. The Swedish avocado market is made up of a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado supplying countries to Sweden are:
- Germany
- Spain
- The United Kingdom (UK)
- Israel
- Denmark
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Uganda
- Chile
- Mexico
Sweden brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Stockholm Arlanda 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 Sweden is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Gothenburg. The sea port has a modern container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Sweden
Avocado importers in Sweden 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 Sweden:
- 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 Sweden
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 9 hours 15 minutes | 32 days |
| Mexico | 12 hours 30 minutes | 39 days |
| Chile | 16 hours 45 minutes | 38 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.