Fawakih eyes Asia potential for Kenyan avocados

For Kenyan fresh produce exporter Fawakih Import and Export, Asia’s booming appetite for avocados is opening new doors, and managing director El’miqdad Hassan Nandwa is optimistic about the region’s potential.

“We’re already exporting to India, and after attending Asia Fruit Logistica, we’ve been able to seal the deal on some new orders for China as well,” he said. “Asia’s a big market, with huge potential, so we need to be ready.”

While demand for Kenyan avocados is growing in Asia, the trade is not without its complexities. In India, for instance, Kenya’s fruit faces a 3 per cent import duty — a significant disadvantage compared to Tanzanian avocados, which enter duty-free due to Tanzania’s classification as a least developed country (LDC). “Negotiations are ongoing to lift the duty for Kenya,” Nandwa explained, “but for now, it’s a challenge.”

Fawakih ships both Hass and green-skin avocado varieties, but preferences vary by market. “India and China both prefer Hass,” said Nandwa. “The green-skin varieties — like Fuerte — tend to go to the Middle East, Turkey, Egypt, and sometimes to Europe.”

Like most Kenyan exporters, Fawakih has been impacted by global shipping disruptions. While the Red Sea crisis has mainly affected routes to Europe, Hassan noted there’s a knock-on effect across global shipping lanes. “Even for Asia, we see delays because the same vessels and containers are reprogrammed,” he said. “Everything is connected.”

Fawakih also grows mangoes and pineapples, though avocados are currently the only fruit with a phytosanitary protocol in place for exports to Asia. “Our mangoes go mostly to the Middle East — countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The impact of climate change is being felt, he added, making forecasting more difficult. “This year, the avocado trees didn’t flower as expected,” Nandwa revealed. “It’s happening globally, but it’s worrying. The seasons are no longer predictable.”