South Africa gains access to three Asian avocado markets

South Africa has secured approval to export fresh avocados to three major Asian markets: Japan, China, and India, which together imported avocados worth US$322m in 2023. This development is expected to boost avocado production in South Africa and create jobs across the supply chain. Although shipments in 2024 are expected to be modest, industry experts predict that 2025 will see a significant increase in exports to these lucrative markets.

South Africa recently dispatched its inaugural container of Hass avocados to Japan, marking the culmination of years of negotiations between the two nations. The countries’ respective agriculture ministries have approved the Avocado Work Plan, ensuring that export protocols, such as a 19-day cold treatment at 2°C, are properly implemented. In 2023, Japan imported avocados valued at US$160m, with Mexico, Peru, and Australia leading as top suppliers. Japan's annual avocado market stands at approximately 70,000 tonnes. South African avocados are expected to compete directly with those from Peru, as the two countries share similar production seasons.

China has also opened its doors to South African avocados, following an agreement reached on the sidelines of the 2023 BRICS Summit. South African authorities have since navigated China’s rigorous phytosanitary standards, resulting in the recent approval for export. This positions South Africa alongside Kenya and Tanzania, which have also gained access to the Chinese market. Over the past few years, President Xi Jinping has promoted the establishment of ‘green lanes’ for African agricultural exports, aimed at expediting inspection and quarantine procedures, and expanding the list of products eligible for zero-tariff treatment. In 2023, China imported US$151m worth of avocados, primarily from Peru, Chile, and Kenya. With an estimated 300 million Chinese consumers able to afford imported fruit, the market potential is immense.

India, another emerging market for avocados, granted South Africa access in April 2024. The first airfreight shipment has already been dispatched. Last year, India imported avocados valued at US$10m, with Tanzania supplying about 85% of this demand.

South Africa’s avocado industry, which produces over 130,000 tonnes annually, has been steadily expanding. Recent investments have added 4,750 ha to its cultivation area, now totalling over 18,000 ha. The industry employs around 15,000 people on farms and in packhouses, with additional employment generated along the value chain. Currently, 45% of South Africa’s avocado crop is exported, primarily to Europe, while the remainder is consumed domestically.

References

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‘China is hungry for avocados, and South Africa is ready to deliver as export deal gets the green light’, South China Morning Post, 15 April 2024

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‘First South African avocados head to Japan’, Asiafruit, 15 July 2024 

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