AFA Suspends Avocado Sea Exports, Issues Warning To Mango Exporters

Kenya’s avocado exporters will lose the sea freight route from this Friday, October 30, after the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) shut the harvesting season for sea shipments, saying there simply isn’t enough fruit around.

In a notice dated October 28, Director General Calistus Efukho explained that the Authority had surveyed all the major growing zones to gauge current output and project what next year’s main season might look like. The results were not encouraging. “The survey findings are that current production volumes are low,” he said.

The closure covers Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo avocados. Air freight is not affected, so exporters can still fly the fruit out.

Whatever leaves the country, by air or otherwise, will still go through inspection by the Horticultural Crops Directorate. Exporters must also supply traceability details for each consignment.

Oil processors are also affected, as the harvesting season for them is now closed too. Those holding avocado oil stocks meant for export have until Monday, November 2, to get them verified.

During the closure, importing avocados for oil processing is banned. AFA says the rule is meant to stop traders from harvesting immature local fruit and passing it off as imported.

Efukho also had a warning for mango exporters. Some have been mixing mangoes with avocados in sea shipments, a practice he said breaks the Horticultural Crops Regulations, 2020. Exporters applying for permits must now ensure the consignment declared is made up of mangoes only.

Anyone who ignores the directives risks losing their export licence, whether an exporter or an avocado oil processor. AFA also said it will not issue permits for consignments that were started in breach of the rules.

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