Tunisia is one of the most urbanized countries in the North African region. Around 70% of the inhabitants live in the country’s urban areas, specifically in the coastal cities. This trend is expanding at a rate of 1.5% per year. This is why Tunisia is a fast growing destination for avocados.
Owing to its superfood status, avocado demand in Tunisia is growing. Imports have picked up speed over the past decade. In addition, higher volumes are expected in the years to come as Tunisia continues to invest in its capacity to import more avocado.
Tunisia Avocado Imports
Seeing as avocado production in Tunisia is too low to meet demand, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most part of the year. In 2023, Tunisia shipped in just above 200 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 79% from the previous year.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Tunisia between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Tunisia
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Tunisia:
Avocado Supply Countries to Tunisia
The avocado import market in Tunisia is dominated by Peru. Kenya was the second largest supplier in 2017 after occupying the top spot in the years 2014 and 2015. Avocados from Colombia are also rising in their share of the total imports.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Tunisia are:
- Spain
- South Africa
It has also imported avocado in the recent past from countries like:
- Chile
- Italy
- Mexico
Tunisia brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Tunis-Carthage International Airport. The airport has cold storage rooms and a cargo terminal.
The other way avocados enter Tunisia is through its main sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the port of Rades. The sea port has facilities to handle containers.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Tunisia
Avocado importers in Tunisia must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import permit issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Air Way Bill
- Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries
- Certificate of Origin
- A document called AMC (requesting authorization to release for consumption)
Sourcing Avocados from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Tunisia:
- 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 Tunisia
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 6 hours 45 minutes | |
| Peru | 13 hours 40 minutes | 18-23 days |
| Colombia | 11 hours 40 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.