Saudi Arabia is located in the most arid part of the Arabian Peninsula. Its very hot in the summer and mild in the winter and the rains are scarce. While less than 2% of the total land area is used for agriculture. The high temperatures and water scarcity make the country unfit to grow avocados.
Since Saudi Arabia is a net importer of avocado, it is exposed to price fluctuations of the fruit. A greater number of avocados sold in Saudi Arabia are found wholesale markets. The biggest domestic markets in the country are located in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. Supermarkets and informal traders like fruit vendors and green groceries around Saudi Arabia also trade in a smaller number of avocados.
Saudi Arabia Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Saudi Arabia were valued at just above 26 million US Dollars in 2023. It’s an increase of 8% from the previous year. The sharpest climb was from 2014 to 2015 when the import value rose from about 13 million US Dollars to around 21 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Saudi Arabia between 2012 and 2023.
Avocado Price in Saudi Arabia per kg
The cost of a kilo of avocados in Saudi Arabia can be between SAR6 (US1.60 dollars) and SAR7 (US1.87 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price can go as low as SAR5 (US1.33 dollars).
Retail prices of avocado per piece vary from seller to seller. Different retailers are selling a kilo of avocados from SAR7-SAR15. Market timing also determines the price range as late season avocados get a premium over early season avocados. The logistical costs that come with importing avocados are a major point in setting their retail prices.
Even as a seasonal fruit, avocado prices are adjusted based on supply. Saudi Arabia 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 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is slowly becoming 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 Saudi Arabia prefer green skin types of avocado because of their lower price.
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. This is the case among urban dwellers as they have a higher disposable income. Avocados exported to Saudi Arabia are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Saudi Arabia
The avocado import business in Saudi Arabia is profitable when logistical costs are reduced. Avocados from Kenya take a shorter transit time than those from other countries that supply to Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Customs Authority. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Ministry of Health. The government of Saudi Arabia sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA).
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Investment. 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 Saudi Arabia must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex and EU. MEWA is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.