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- Global demand is growing for SA avocados
- Exports increased by 63% in the past decade
- New markets opening up, including top 10 importer Japan
The world can’t get enough avocados, and South Africa is stepping up to meet the growing demand.
Exports have increased by 63% over the past decade, according to the SA Avocado Growers’ Association. About 74,4000 tonnes of avos were exported last year, just 9,500 shy of 2018’s record. ITC figures show the value of exports has more than tripled since 2012, reaching R1.63-billion in 2021.
South Africa is one of the top 10 exporters of the fruit globally and the second-biggest in Africa, after Kenya. Africa produces about 12% of the world’s avocados.
Global trade in the green gold is worth R120.3-billion, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, which gets its data directly from public customs records.
While Europe is a major importer of SA avocados, other markets are opening up. In the past 10 months, agreements have been put in place with India, China and Japan. Official shipments were expected to start mid-year.
— 3 July, 2024Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for more charts like this
