Kuwait heavily imports avocado because of its unfavorable desert climate. It experiences a hot, long summer and a short, warm winter. Rainfall, which is just above 100mm per annum, is irregular and the temperatures range from 30°C to as high as 46°C. The country is also not capable of growing avocados as it is water scarce and the soils lack nutrients.
Avocados in Kuwait are sold in bulk in wholesale markets. The biggest domestic market in the country is the Al Forda Central Fruits and Vegetables Market. It has both wholesale and retail sections. Supermarkets, hypermarkets and informal traders like fruit vendors and green groceries around Kuwait trade in smaller volumes of avocado.
Kuwait Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Kuwait were valued at about 20 million US Dollars in 2021. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 53%. The sharpest climb was from 2014 to 2015 when the import value rose from about 4.4 million US Dollars to around 7.9 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Kuwait between 2013 and 2021.
Avocado Price in Kuwait per kg
The cost of a kilo of avocados in Kuwait can be between 1 Kuwaiti dinar (US3.26 dollars) and 2 Kuwaiti dinar (US6.52 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has stayed at around 1.50 Kuwaiti dinar (US5 dollars) in the recent past.
Just like any fruit, retail prices of one avocado vary depending on the seller. Consumers can expect to buy a kilo of avocados from 2-3 Kuwaiti dinar at some retailers. Market timing also determines the price range as late season avocados get a premium over early season avocados.
Avocado, as a seasonal fruit, has its prices adjusted based on supply. Kuwait imports huge volumes of avocado in March up to September when they are in season. It brings in small volumes of avocado the rest of the year from avocado producing countries outside Africa.
Avocado in Kuwait
Kuwait is slowly changing into a high-value avocado market. The country takes in commercial varieties such as Hass and Fuerte. But it also brings in non-commercial green skin varieties. Many avocado consumers in Kuwait prefer green skin types of avocado because of their lower cost.
The logistical costs that come with importing avocados are a major factor in setting their retail prices. The type, quality and size of avocado is the other factor behind its selling price. The dark skin Hass avocado is gaining in market share little by little even if it costs more. Avocados exported to Kuwait are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Kuwait
The avocado import business in Kuwait is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from other countries that supply to Kuwait.
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. Our avocados are organically grown in the most ideal climatic conditions in Kenya.
We source avocados from our company farms and partner farms. Our partner farmers are proud and happy working with us.
Our avocados are cultivated with uncompromising dedication to excellence and freshness. We guarantee optimum maturity of avocados.
We give competitive pricing to our customers.
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 in 4kg cartons for both air and sea freights. We use dry wooden pallets to pack the cartons. Each pallet for sea freight takes 276 cartons while each pallet for air freight takes 144 cartons.
All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.
The avocados in our pack house go through accurate machine selection. The avocados are classified according to dry meter, size, colour and external skin defects.
After packing, we pre-cool our avocados to 5°C in our cold rooms. This reduces field heat immediately after packing.
This process conserves the weight of our avocados preventing them from softening, water loss and wilting. Long shelf life is guaranteed because our avocados stay fresh throughout the supply chain. Our customers are happy because of the high quality of avocado we deliver.
The pre-cooling process is in preparation for shipping. We maintain the cold temperatures and achieve consistent preservation by loading close to the cold rooms.
Our trained staff properly seal the refrigerated containers. Our quality assurance team then confirms before the containers leave the pack house. The avocados are now ready for export.
We ship in controlled atmosphere (CA) refrigerated containers (reefer.)
By working directly with avocado growers and cooperatives, we are able to deliver our produce within a short lead time. We believe that growers grow and exporters export. That is how our growers are able to do what they do best and in return we guarantee superior, quality produce.
Avocado imports have to first go through the Kuwait General Administration of Customs. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Kuwait Ministry of Health (MOH). The government of Kuwait sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI).
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by MOCI. Arabic language is required on the label. Labels must include the following information:
- Name and address of producer
- Brand or trademark
- Country of origin
- Type of avocado and grade
- Storage instructions and temperature requirements
- Gross weight and number of avocados per carton
- Shelf life
- Harvest year and packing date
Avocados imported in Kuwait must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex, GSO and EU. MOH is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.