July 09, 2025 | The Kenyan Wall Street |
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) of Kenya clarified that no proposal to ban fresh avocado exports was made during a recent high-level meeting focused on improving the avocado value chain. The meeting, held with the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat, aimed to enhance value addition through avocado oil processing, using fruits unfit for export. AFA emphasized that Kenya remains committed to supporting its growing avocado export market, which is the largest in Africa and among the top six globally.
Kenya produced 633,000 metric tons of avocados in 2023, with exports increasing from 103,254 MT in 2022 to 122,581 MT. Projections show exports will reach 128,000 MT in 2024 and 135,000 MT in 2025, supported by new markets such as Iraq, South Korea, and India. Despite increased volume, export value fell by 11% in 2023 due to quality concerns, especially compared to competitors like Mexico and Peru.
To address this, Kenya is improving agricultural practices and expanding cultivation across over 30 counties. The country forecasts a 4% production increase in 2025 to 585,000 MT, driven by better yields and increased acreage. The focus remains on reducing post-harvest losses and raising farmers’ income through innovation and value addition.
