Libya has jumped on the bandwagon of importing avocado. Presently, it is a reality for people in the country to find the fruit being sold in supermarkets. The premier wholesale market in Libya, Kremia fruits and vegetables market, also trades in smaller quantities of avocados.
Communal plates, which are part of Libyan food customs, now include avocado as a side dish. This is in view of the fact that the North African country is very urbanized. Around 80% of the population lives in cities and towns along the coast and a huge number of them are located in the capital, Tripoli.
Libya Avocado Imports
In 2023, Libya shipped in just above 560 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 45% from 2022. There is no data recorded for the year 2020 according to UN Comtrade. The avocado market in Libya is dominated by Kenya.
Here is the import volume of avocados from Kenya in Libya between 2017 and 2023.
Avocado Market in Libya
Avocados from Kenya are selling well in Libya. Their import value has risen sharply in just four years. Kenyan avocado exports to Libya were worth 13,000 US Dollars in 2017 and reached about 430,000 US Dollars in 2023.
Libya brings avocado from abroad through its main commercial sea port. Avocados get into the country as sea freight by way of the Port of Tripoli. The sea port has refrigerated container stations.
The other way avocados enter Libya is through its main airport. Avocados get into the country as air freight by way of the Mitiga International Airport. The airport has a cargo terminal and cold storage rooms to keep avocados fresh as they were when harvested.
Avocado in Libya
Avocados have become a favorite menu item in the Libyan food service industry. There is a blossoming restaurant scene in the country which caters to the growing appetite for the fruit. Dozens of private hotels in Libya are introducing delicious Kenyan avocados to consumers.
Avocado imports have to first go through Libyan Customs Authority. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Food and Drug Control Center (FDCC). The government of Libya sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Marine Resources.
Avocado from Kenya
Here are some advantages Kenya has in supplying avocados to Libya:
- The transit time from Kenya to Libya is about 6 hours via air freight and about 18 days via sea freight. This is shorter compared to those from South American countries.
- Avocado importers in Libya incur lower logistical costs due to the close proximity between the two countries.
- Hass, Fuerte and other minor commercial green skin varieties grow in Kenya. They are also available in mixed sizes.
- It has a longer season that lasts from February to October.
- Kenyan avocados are competitively priced as a result of relatively low production costs.
- Most of Kenya is covered by a sub-tropical climate which ensures consistency of quality and supply.
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.