New possibilities are opening up for Kenyan avocados, according to Enzispring’s Alice Okello, including in eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, but Red Sea issues continue to pose a challenge
Kenyan avocado grower Enzispring is a relatively new player on the European market, having begun exports to the continent in just 2023. Based in Nairobi, the company operates farms in the Mount Kenya region, and managing director Alice Okello anticipates growth in its export volumes over the coming years.
At present, Enzispring’s avocados are sent primarily to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, according to Okello, where they are then redistributed to Poland, as well as to the port of Algeciras in Spain.
“Consumption of avocados is increasing in Poland,” she said. “Our customer there is keen on forming a long-term partnership with us. They have committed to two containers per month to begin with, and if everything goes well, they will definitely increase their volumes.”
Kenya’s main avocado season runs from March to October, providing a longer supply window than many of the country’s competitors. However, Kenyan volumes to Europe fall during Peru’s peak, when the focus shifts instead to the Middle East market.
“When Peru gets into the market, we take a back seat a little bit,” said Okello. “The Middle East offers more stability than Europe in terms of the continuity of supplies. The main uncertainty there is the fluctuating prices. Sometimes when Kenyan avocados flood the market, the prices go much lower.”
Enzispring currently sends to Dubai, which serves as a hub for the wider Gulf region, but Okello said that opportunities for direct shipments to markets like Saudi Arabia and Iraq are increasing.
When it comes to logistics, Okello said the support of Maersk had been instrumental, giving Kenyan avocados access to new ports, including in India and China.
“The only issue now is the Red Sea situation,” she added. “We’re really hoping for that to be sorted out, hopefully in the next few months, but it’s been very unpredictable.”
She said that delays caused by the crisis in the Red Sea had meant longer shipping times, with deliveries now taking up to 42 days to reach Rotterdam, compared with 23 days previously.
“It’s a challenge, but we have to find ways to reach the market with top quality,” said Okello. “We use ethylene traps to manage the ripening process and to ensure our avocados arrive in peak condition.”
