The first trials of avocado exports from Ethiopia conducted over the past two years are very promising and herald the upcoming arrival of Ethiopia as a new player on the global market. This is according to Kaleab Getaneh, CEO of Ethio Fresh Export. The exporter shares his experience in the industry and discusses the main obstacles that still hinder its development.
© Ethio Fresh Export
According to its CEO, Ethio Fresh Export has made its debut in various markets. He explains: "Over the past two years, we have conducted trials exporting avocados by air to markets such as the Middle East and Spain. We have received very positive feedback on the quality of our fruit and are confident that we can be very competitive, even if air transport is not cost-effective. We have several advantages, such as geographical proximity to our major markets, very competitive production costs, and several microclimates enabling us to extend our season."
© Ethio Fresh Export
Despite the positive results of the initial trials, the exporter admits that air transport remains prohibitively expensive. He adds: "Logistics remains a key factor in developing the sector and tapping into the enormous potential of Ethiopian origin. Air transport is not efficient and remains very costly. It certainly allows Ethiopian avocados to be discovered, but the transition to major origin status requires investment in infrastructure. This is currently underway and should be completed within two years. I am thinking in particular of the connection between Ethiopia and the port of Djibouti via a rail system including refrigerated containers, a project currently underway that will be a game-changer."
According to Getaneh, commercial trials have revealed several promising markets. He adds: "There is the Middle East market, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which is very attractive and in high demand, and where we have the advantage of geographical proximity and even shorter transit times than Kenya. The challenge in this market is that there is a lot of competition and long-established suppliers, which makes logistics efficiency and costs decisive."
© Ethio Fresh Export
"There is also the European market and China, where our customers are very satisfied. To be competitive in these markets, we need to increase the acreage devoted to the Hass variety, which is the most in demand in these markets. We have found that the price of our avocados is very reasonable and competitive, even when transported by air," Getaneh continues.
The exporter says he has identified the October-November window as the most advantageous for Ethiopian avocado exports. He adds, "So far, our season runs from June to September. However, we have the possibility to extend the season to November by introducing cultivation in other parts of the country."
© Ethio Fresh Export
"The Ethiopian government has put in place the National Avocado Development Program, a 15-year plan to take action and meet these needs. The various Ethiopian stakeholders know what needs to be done in terms of production, marketing, logistical efficiency, and sustainability to put Ethiopia on track to become a major source of avocados," Getaneh adds.
"We have seen the success story in the flower industry, where Ethiopia has made a breakthrough in the international market. We need to replicate this success in avocados and create the conditions to attract foreign investors and large-scale growers," the exporter concludes.
For more information:
Kaleab Getaneh
Ethio Fresh Export
Tel: +34 645 31 06 45
Email: [email protected]
