First South African avocados head to Japan

South African avocado growers will celebrate this week as the first container to be exported to Japan will be shipped from Durban.

The shipment is the result of access agreed between South Africa and Japan earlier this year.

“The fruit has been cleared for shipment,” said Subtrop’s Derek Donkin. “We are using this container to finally test all aspects of the new protocol agreed between our two countries. Once this goes well, we can expect further shipments.”

Donkin earlier confirmed that the protocol for shipment to Japan requires a cold treatment of 2°C for 19 days.

“South African research has shown that Hass avocados are able to withstand this treatment, and trial shipments to the UK under this regime have been successful,” he confirmed.

”Nonetheless, we still feel we have to make sure that we can properly deliver in terms of the protocol and we start our new future of sales in Japan on the right foot.”

For the country’s avocados 2024 has been a momentous year in opening up new markets in the east, including China, Japan and now also India.

Donkin said that the first South African airfreighted avocados had already arrived in India and sea shipments were expected to follow.

A Chinese delegation also visited South Africa recently and all outstanding matters had been cleared up.

While limited shipments to these countries will take place this year, it is expected that 2025 will be the first big year for South Africa in these markets.

It comes during an avocado season where South Africa has been blessed with a big crop and a strong market in its traditional marketing regions.

“We are still expected to ship around 20m cartons and due to lower competitive shipments from Peru our growers are having an excellent season,” Donkin added.