Ukraine is one of the fastest growing markets for avocados in Eastern Europe. This is as a result of a high urbanization rate which stands at around 70%. The urban population is concentrated in and around the capital, Kyiv, and other major cities in the south western and central part of the country.
Avocado consumption in Ukraine has been soaring over the past decade. Many urban dwellers in the country now include the avocado in their diet as a sign of modern lifestyle. Aside from that, more of them are becoming aware of the numerous health benefits of the fruit.
Ukraine Avocado Imports
Avocado imports are available in the domestic market for most of the year as there is no avocado production in Ukraine. In 2023, Ukraine shipped in just above 14,000 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 37% from the previous year.
Basically, in the last 10 years, avocado imports in Ukraine have showed an upward trend. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2017 to 2018 at 116%. The peak volume was in the year 2023 at 14,311 tonnes.
Here is the import volume of avocados in Ukraine between 2012 and 2023.
Importing Avocados in Ukraine
Here is a step by step guide on how to import avocados in Ukraine:
Avocado Supplying Countries to Ukraine
The avocado import market in Ukraine has been dominated by Israel but Peru took the top spot in 2019 and 2020. Kenya is among the top four suppliers. The Ukrainian avocado market is characterized by a diversity of sources.
The other key avocado exporting countries to Ukraine are:
- South Africa
- Spain
- Chile
- Colombia
- Mexico
It also imports avocado in small volumes from countries like:
- The Netherlands
- Poland
- Morocco
Ukraine brings avocado from abroad through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Boryspil International 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 Ukraine is through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Odessa. The sea port has a huge container terminal.
How to Know Reliable Avocado Suppliers in Ukraine
Avocado importers in Ukraine 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 Ukraine:
- 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 Ukraine
| COUNTRY | AIR FREIGHT | SEA FREIGHT |
| Kenya | 7 hours 40 minutes | 20 days |
| Peru | 15 hours 45 minutes | 39 days |
| South Africa | 11 hours 20 minutes | 30 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.