Gulf, India, and China keep Kenya's avocado campaign afloat
Kenyan avocado exporters are shifting their focus toward the Middle East, India, and China due to logistical challenges in Europe. Long transit times have made the European market less viable for the current season.
Why it matters
This highlights how global supply chain disruptions and shifting trade routes are forcing agricultural exporters to pivot to new emerging markets.
Kenya's avocado export campaign remains active, with demand mainly coming from Gulf countries, India, and China. At the same time, troublesome logistics still cut exporters off from the European market, according to Allan Njoroge of Danka Investments.
"A few weeks before the end of the season, we see that demand is there, and the export campaign is still very much active. But this season it is coming primarily from the Middle East, India, and China. European demand has been disappointing this season. This is the lowest volume we have shipped to Europe in recent memory," Njoroge says.
The exporter points to shifting trade routes as part of the logistical complications marking the season. "Jeddah is currently our main port serving shipments to the UAE and the wider Middle East, while shipments to China and India that move through Tanzania."
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