Tanzania avocados are enjoying an increase in international market penetration. Their entry into several foreign markets has expanded consumer choices. Word about how good they taste continues to spread across major avocado importing countries. Therefore, consumer behavior is slowly changing in favor of avocados grown in Tanzania.
While comparatively new to growing avocados commercially, Tanzania continues to grow its production volume. According to a report by the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country produced about 20,000 tons of avocado in the 2016/17 agricultural year. For the 2022/23 agricultural year, the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) plans to distribute about 20 million avocado seedlings to both public and private nurseries.
Tanzania Avocado Export
In 2023, Tanzania shipped out just above 25,000 tonnes of avocado. It is an increase of 34% from the previous year. The main importer of Tanzania avocado is the Netherlands.
The other key importers of avocados from Tanzania are:
- France
- The United Kingdom (UK)
- Germany
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Belgium
Over the past decade, avocado exports from Tanzania have enjoyed year on year growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2012 to 2013 at 122%. The largest shipment on record is from the year 2023 at 25,037 tonnes. It has been an upward trajectory since 2012 as Tanzania looks to double the export in 2024.
Here is the export volume of avocados from Tanzania between 2012 and 2023.
Avocado in Tanzania
Tanzania had around 5,000 hectares under avocado cultivation during the 2016/17 agricultural year according to NBS. It is projected that the land area increased to almost 10,000 hectares in 2020. In 2022, preparations by the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) to certify more small and large scale avocado farmers are in high gear.
Avocados from Tanzania are succeeding in markets abroad. Over the last 10 years, their export value has risen sharply. Tanzania avocado exports were worth only 400,000 US Dollars in 2012 and reached about 38 million US Dollars in 2023.
Avocado Tanzania
Tanzania avocados are primarily grown in the Southern Highlands and around Mt Kilimanjaro. These areas are covered by sub-tropical and tropical climates that are ideal to grow avocado. Combining diverse production regions, altitudes with nutrient-rich soils and an abundant supply of rainfall throughout the regions allows Tanzania to produce avocados for a better part of the year.
Farmers in these prime avocado growing regions mostly rely on natural sources of water. Consequently, they grow their avocados in a sustainable way. Some of them reduce their impact on the environment by growing organically while others apply good agricultural practices (GLOBALG.A.P).
Avocado farmers in Tanzania can easily access markets beyond their borders as the government is investing heavily in improving infrastructure. Cold storage facilities at the Julius Nyerere International airport have been upgraded. The Arusha Bypass road was launched in 2022 to link northern Tanzania to the Port of Mombasa. This will further develop the avocado export business in the East African nation.
Here is a top exporter of Tanzania avocado
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 Tanzania avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
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 for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.