Grace Ngungi: “It’s an excellent year for Kenyan avocados”

Avobook spoke with the CEO of Karakuta and member of the Kenya Avocado Exporters Association, who detailed the challenges of this origin in terms of transportation, production and reputation of its fruit

In recent years, Kenyan avocados have been gaining ground in the global market, with an increasingly strong presence in Europe. It is a promising origin, generating considerable excitement among major importers.

Avobook spoke with Grace Ngungi, CEO of Karakuta and member of the Avocado Exporters Association, who emphasizes that this progress has been the result of a hard effort to improve the quality of the exported product and Kenya 's image as a producing country.

It's a task taken seriously because, initially, the export of low-quality fruit damaged the country's reputation. According to the executive, this was addressed through intensive work, which is already showing successful results.

Grace Ngungi explains to Avobook that 2024 has been particularly challenging for Kenyan exporters.

“The implementation of a government-controlled export window, designed to guarantee the quality of exported products, has had both positive and negative consequences. While this initiative aims to improve standards, this year it has harmed some exporters due to the imposed restrictions,” he explains.

Grace Ngungi, CEO of Karakuta and member of the Kenya Avocado Exporters Association.

The war impacts export routes

Another factor they have had to face is the war between Palestine and Israel, as it has negatively impacted export routes.

“The necessary changes at the ports of embarkation have increased transit times by approximately 15 days, and the shortage of containers has forced us to opt for more expensive air shipments,” says the CEO of Karakuta.

Despite these obstacles, Kenyan exporters have explored new markets in China and the Middle East, diversifying their destinations and reducing their reliance on traditional routes.

Furthermore, Kenya is a country that has known how to take advantage of opportunities, including some unexpected ones, such as Peru's early exit from the market and its lack of large calibers.

“This opened a window for Kenya, which benefited from abundant rains that allowed for large sizes (12-14), to resume its shipments to Europe, a traditionally important market for our avocados,” says one of the most recognized representatives of the producers in that country.

“2024 has been an excellent year”

According to Grace Ngungi, 2024 has been a good year for Kenyan avocados, in terms of production and harvest.

“This year has been excellent for Kenyan avocados. External factors have presented significant commercial challenges, and although the commercial outcome is yet to be fully assessed, expectations are optimistic,” he says.

The future of avocado production in Kenya looks promising. Production volumes are expected to continue growing, as is the planted area.

“There is a consensus among producers, exporters, packing houses and the logistics chain on the importance of protecting Kenya’s quality and reputation as a reliable source of avocados,” says Grace Ngungi.

However, for this forecast to materialize, a collective commitment to improving and maintaining high quality standards is essential. If this happens, Kenya's position in the global market can be consolidated.

“As the country overcomes current challenges and explores new opportunities, Kenyan agriculture, especially in the avocado sector, is well-positioned for sustained growth in the coming years,” concludes the CEO of a member of the Avocado Exporters Association.