Singapore relies heavily on avocado imports because it is has limited land available for agriculture. The other reason there is no avocado production in Singapore is the equatorial climate it experiences. With rainfall at over 2,000mm per annum pouring throughout the year and temperatures ranging from 23°C to 32°C, it is not suitable to grow avocados commercially in the country.
A bulk of avocados sold in Singapore are found in supermarkets. The biggest wholesale market in the country is Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre. It has a fruits and vegetables section. Hypermarkets and informal traders like fruit vendors and green grocers around Singapore also trade in smaller volumes of avocado.
Singapore Avocado Imports
Imports of avocado in Singapore were valued at just above 22 million US Dollars in 2021. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 4%. The sharpest climb was from 2013 to 2014 when the import value rose from about 8 million US Dollars to around 11 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of avocados in Singapore between 2012 and 2021.
Avocado Price in Singapore per kg
The cost of a kilo of avocados in Singapore can be between SGD5 (US3.62 dollars) and SGD6 (US4.35 dollars). This is based on the average import price per kg. This wholesale price has stayed at SGD5.3 (US3.84 dollars) in the recent past.
Retail prices of avocado per piece vary from seller to seller. Customers can expect to pay about SGD3 for one avocado. While the retail price of a bundle of two or three pieces can be from SGD7-SGD10. 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. Singapore imports huge quantities 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 Singapore
Singapore can be considered 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 Singapore prefer Hass avocados that are small in size because of their lower cost.
The logistical costs that come with importing avocados are a major factor in setting their retail prices. The closer the exporting country is to Singapore, the cheaper the price for the consumer. Avocados exported to Singapore are packed in both 4kg and 10kg cartons.
How to Make More Profit Importing Avocados in Singapore
The avocado import business in Singapore 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 Singapore.
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 Singapore Customs. They are then tested using certain food safety protocols set by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). The government of Singapore sets the requirements for importers of horticultural produce like avocado through the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
Cartons of avocado must be labeled according to guidelines determined by the Ministry of 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 Singapore must undergo the pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) tests done by government laboratories. They should not exceed acceptable limits according to Codex. SFA is responsible for the control of pesticides residue on avocado imports.