The Lebanese avocado season is starting amid high spirits as the industry expects a recovery after two seasons severely affected by the war in the region. Souad Fadel, export manager at Fadel Trading, reports on a promising start to the export campaign.
Fadel notes that avocado production in Lebanon is increasingly shifting toward the Hass variety. She explains, "This year has been one of our strongest seasons for avocados, especially Hass and Lamb Hass. These two varieties now represent most of our orchards, and production is up by an estimated 15–20% compared to last year. The shift toward Hass has been intentional, driven by growing international demand and the consistent performance of this variety in export markets. Lebanon's climate helped us achieve excellent dry matter and oil content, and sizing is more balanced this season, with good volumes in medium and large calibers. This has strengthened our position with GCC and European buyers who look for both consistency and premium quality."
© Souad
This season brings welcome relief in logistics, after war-related complications affected the last two seasons. Fadel says, "Logistics are more manageable this season compared to last year, even with ongoing regional challenges. Air freight availability is more stable, and the documentation flow has been smoother. All our avocados are packed through our certified packing house, giving us full traceability and control over the cold chain, which is crucial for Hass and Lamb Hass. Freight rates remain above pre-2020 levels, but weekly programs to the GCC and select European destinations have been running reliably. Speed, temperature management, and quality preservation remain our top priorities."
On the commercial front, Lebanese exporters hope to regain their market share in destinations where Lebanese lawyers are established and appreciated. Fadel adds, "Demand for Lebanese Hass and Lamb Hass continues to rise. Buyers appreciate the texture, flavor, and shelf life of our fruit. We expect our strongest markets this season to include the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt, where demand for premium quality is consistent. We also have a few destinations in Europe where buyers are interested in specialty origins. Some price-sensitive markets are slower, but overall demand for premium-grade Hass is solid, especially when supply from larger producing countries fluctuates."
"As one of Lebanon's leading exporters of premium avocados, Fadel Trading Company is committed to expanding Hass and Lamb Hass production to meet rising international demand. To maintain strong performance this season, consistent logistics and reliable air freight remain essential. On our part, we strive to guarantee factors for success, including coordinated harvest, packing, and shipment planning, strict cold chain and quality management, full traceability supported by our certification, and building long-term programs with importers in the GCC and Europe," Fadel concludes.
For more information:
Souad Fadel
Fadel Trading
Tel: +961 81 817 237
[email protected]
