Turkey is emerging as a fast-growing market for avocados in the Middle East region. Its population is swelling at a rate of around 1% per year. Other than a rapid population growth rate, almost 70% of the citizens live in towns and cities.
Avocado is now one of the most sought-after fruits in Turkey. This is driven by the fact that many consumers are becoming aware of the benefits of a healthy diet which includes avocado. The strong tradition of eating fresh fruits after dinner, as dessert, has resulted in Turkey importing more avocados to supplement its own production.
Turkey Avocado Imports
Since avocado production in Turkey is too low to meet the demand, avocado imports flood the domestic market for most of the year. In 2023, Turkey shipped in nearly 11,000 tonnes of avocado. Compared to the previous year, it is a notable increase of 49%.
In the last 10 years, avocado imports in Turkey have enjoyed year on year growth. The sharpest climb in volume was recorded from 2020 to 2021 at 73%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 10,954 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Turkey between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Turkey
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Turkey:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Turkey
The avocado import market in Turkey was dominated by Kenya for three years in a row since the year 2018. Imports from Kenya have been growing faster than any other country. The Turkish avocado market is fed by multiple sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Turkey are:
- Peru
- South Africa
- Chile
- Israel
- Colombia
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- Mexico
- The Netherlands
- Morocco
Turkey brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Istanbul 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 Turkey is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Haydarpasa. The sea port has a huge container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Turkey
Avocado importers in Turkey must present the following documents for their shipment to be released by the customs office:
- Import license
- 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 Turkey:
- 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 Turkey
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 6 hours 30 minutes | 18 days |
| Peru | 15 hours 45 minutes | |
| South Africa | 10 hours | 26 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.