The horticultural crops regulator has frozen the export of avocado by sea from Friday after a nationwide survey found insufficient supplies to sustain shipments, tightening controls on a trade that earned the country Sh20.8 billion in 2025.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) said current production of export-ready fruit was too low to support sea shipments, prompting the closure of the harvesting season for four varieties from October 30.
The restriction covers Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo avocado variants, but exporters can continue shipping the varieties by air, subject to inspection and clearance by the Horticultural Crops Directorate and submission of traceability details for every consignment.
“The avocado harvesting season is equally closed for avocado oil processors. Processors with oil stocks, planning to export oil during the closed season should request verification by Monday, November 2, 2026,” said AFA.
“Only oil stocks that have been verified in advance shall be cleared for export. Importation of avocado fruit for oil processing is equally closed, to avert the harvesting of local immature avocado under the pretext of importation.”
The move comes as Kenya seeks to protect the quality of its avocados in international markets, where premature harvesting has raised concerns about fruit quality and the country’s ability to retain buyers.
For farmers, the closure is set to narrow the market for fruit that would otherwise have been sold to exporters shipping by sea, potentially leaving growers with fewer buyers or forcing some to sell to local traders and processors at lower prices.
The government plans to close the export window for sea shipments of avocados in an attempt to stop the export of unripe fruit and protect the country's reputation in foreign markets.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Smallholder farmers are particularly exposed as they depend on exporters and packhouses to aggregate their produce for overseas markets.
With air freight costing more, exporters may become more selective about the volumes they buy, the quality of fruit they accept, as well as the prices they are willing to pay growers.
Industry figures have previously put air freight for fresh produce at between $4.50 (about Sh585) and $6 (Sh780) per kilogramme, compared with about $4 (Sh520) per kilogramme for sea freight, although charges vary by route, shipment size and market conditions.
At those indicative rates, air transport would cost between $0.50 (Sh65) and $2 (Sh260) more per kilogramme than sea freight. For a one-tonne consignment, that translates to an additional $500 (Sh65,000) to $2,000 (Sh260,000) in freight charges before other handling and export costs are considered.
Official trade data shows Kenya exported avocados worth about $160.1 million (Sh20.8 billion) in 2025, shipping 120,893 tonnes to markets including the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Spain and France.
The Netherlands accounted for the largest share by value at $38.8 million (Sh5.04 billion), followed by the UAE at $30.9 million (Sh4.02 billion), underlining the importance of maintaining reliable supplies and meeting buyers’ quality requirements.
Sea freight is central to the trade as it accommodates large consignments, while air transport allows smaller shipments but generally costs more, making the route less accessible for exporters moving high volumes.
AFA said it would continue monitoring avocado maturity and production patterns and issue further guidance, leaving the timing of the next main export window dependent on subsequent assessments.
The regulator has repeatedly warned against premature harvesting, which can leave fruit with poor eating quality and undermine confidence among overseas buyers.
Exporters have previously raised concerns that complaints about immature avocados could damage Kenya’s standing in key markets.
The sector is also under pressure to ensure that competition for fruit among fresh produce exporters and oil processors does not encourage harvesting before the crop is ready.
AFA has also tightened controls on mango exports, warning that some exporters mix mango consignments with avocados for sea shipment after the avocado season closes, contrary to the set regulations.
During this closure, all mango consignments will undergo inspection before an export certificate is issued, with exporters ensuring that permits cover mango fruit only.
