Qatar’s desert climate makes it impossible to grow its own avocado. It experiences very hot, long summers with temperatures reaching over 45°C and cool, shorter winters. The rains are little with an average rainfall of below 75mm per annum.
The scarcity of fertile land and water makes Qatar a net importer of avocado. Majority of the avocados sold in Qatar are found in wholesale markets. The biggest domestic market in the country is the Al Sailiya Central Market, about 20 minutes away from the capital city, Doha. It has both wholesale and retail stalls. Supermarkets, hypermarkets and informal traders like fruit vendors and green groceries around Qatar also trade in smaller volumes of avocado.
Qatar Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Qatar were valued at just above 11 million US Dollars in 2023. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 11%. The sharpest climb was from 2015 to 2016 when the import value rose from about 1.6 million US Dollars to around 3.4 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Qatar between 2013 and 2023.
Avocado Price in Qatar per kg
The cost of a kilo of avocados in Qatar can be between 7 Qatari Riyal (US1.92 dollars) and 10 Qatari Riyal (US2.75 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price can go as low as 6 Qatari Riyal (US1.65 dollars).
Retail prices of avocado per piece vary from seller to seller. Customers can expect to pay from 12-15 Qatari Riyal for a kilo of avocados at some retailers. At the same time, the selling price of Hass avocados is between 30 and 45 Qatari Riyal per kg. 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. Qatar imports huge amounts 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 avocado producing countries outside Africa.
Avocado Qatar
Qatar is still a low-value avocado market. The country takes in more of the Fuerte variety than the Hass variety. But it also brings in non-commercial green skin varieties. Many avocado consumers in Qatar prefer green skin types of avocado because of their lower cost.
The logistical costs that come with importing avocados are a major point in setting their retail prices. The type, quality and size of avocado determines its selling price. Even though the dark skin Hass avocado costs more, it is gaining in market share little by little. Avocados exported to Qatar are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Qatar
The avocado import business in Qatar is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from other countries that supply to Qatar.
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 Qatar General Authority of Customs. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). The government of Qatar sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (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 Qatar 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. MME is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.