Malaysia relies heavily on avocado imports to meet its local demand. This is because the country lies near the equator which means its climate is equatorial. This kind of climate does not favor avocado production as temperatures range from 23°C to 29°C and rainfall is throughout the year at an average of 2,000mm per annum.
Majority of the avocados sold in Malaysia are found in hypermarkets. The biggest hypermarkets in the country are located in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. They are popular with the middle and high income consumers. Supermarkets, wholesale markets and informal traders like fruit vendors and green grocers around Malaysia also trade in smaller volumes of avocado.
Malaysia Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Malaysia were valued at almost 15 million US Dollars in 2021. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 20%. The sharpest climb was from 2014 to 2015 when the import value rose from about 1.3 million US Dollars to around 3.4 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Malaysia between 2012 and 2021.
Avocado Price per kg Malaysia
The cost of a kilo of avocados in Malaysia can be between RM15 (US3.41 dollars) and RM16 (US3.63 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has gone as low as RM14 (US3.18 dollars).
Retail prices of avocado per piece vary from seller to seller. Customers can expect to pay from RM20-RM25 for a kilo of avocados at different retailers. While the retail price of one avocado can be as low as RM2 and as high as RM7. Market timing also determines the price range as late season avocados get a premium over early season avocados.
Being a seasonal fruit, avocado prices are adjusted based on supply. Malaysia imports a bulk of avocado in March up to September when they are in season. It brings in small amounts of avocado the rest of the year from countries whose season comes later.
Avocado in Malaysia
Malaysia can be seen as 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 Malaysia prefer Hass avocados that are small in size because of their lower cost and they consider them more delicious.
The logistical costs that come with importing avocados are a major factor in setting their retail prices. The closer the exporting country is to Malaysia, the cheaper the price for the consumer. Avocados exported to Malaysia are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Malaysia
The avocado import business in Malaysia is profitable when suppliers offer greater price stability. The pricing of avocados from Kenya is consistent due to abundant supply year after year. Avocados from Kenya also take a shorter transit time than those from countries like South Africa, Mexico and the US that supply Malaysia.
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. 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 Royal Malaysian Customs Department. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH). The government of Malaysia sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI).
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. 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 Malaysia must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex. MAFI is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.