The current market situation for the import of avocados is very different from other years, says Abdul Kadir Memon, Director and head of business development & procurement at Abacate International: "Historically, these months were driven by strong demand and limited origins but this year is different. The Tanzania season stretched longer than expected, and at the same time the new-season fruit has already started arriving via air. Meanwhile, supply has also come in from Kenya, Australia, Chile and Peru. This broader basket of supply has resulted in adequate availability, consistent movement, and prices that are neither unusually high nor at the depressed levels seen earlier this year. It's a stable situation overall."
As for demand, Shahid Patka, director and head of sales & operations at Abacate International, notes that the category continues to grow rapidly. "India is no longer a market where avocados feel unfamiliar. The awareness phase is over. Now it's about deeper consumption per person and wider geographical penetration. Tier 1 cities already have a strong base, avocados are everywhere, from cafés and restaurants to street-style food concepts. Tier 2 cities are following the same trajectory, and even tier 3 markets are now beginning to shape up."
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"Much of the demand growth is organic. Social media has contributed significantly to the product's visibility. Reels, food trends, and café menus have all helped push the fruit into mainstream consumer consciousness. The product has become part of the cultural conversation," Patka adds. "It's no longer niche."
Abacate has had reason to celebrate last month, Memon states: "This year, our company crossed its 100th container of avocado imports for the 2025 season in the previous month, an indicator of how quickly the market has scaled. By year-end, volume is expected to reach around 150 containers, continuing a trend in which both the market and the company have more than doubled annually for several seasons."
While the fundamentals of demand remain strong, the market has faced structural challenges, particularly from misjudged volumes entering the country, Memon explains: "One of the biggest hurdles is the gap between actual consumption and assumed consumption. India's demand is growing rapidly, but it isn't limitless. There is a weekly absorption capacity, and when import volumes exceed that capacity, the system gets disrupted. During certain weeks this year, national consumption could take 14–15 containers, while imports reached 25–30 containers. The result was a rapid price collapse, heavy losses across the board, and fruit being offloaded at levels far below cost."
"This kind of volatility helps no one," Patka adds. "The category has been developing beautifully over the last few years, but excess arrivals can set the entire industry back. The hope is that importers match volumes to their actual sales capabilities. The market can grow sustainably only when supply aligns with real demand."
As the year closes, expectations for the upcoming Tanzania season are positive, Memon says: "Production in Tanzania has been increasing year-on-year, and early indicators suggest that shipments may begin earlier than usual. Traditionally, Tanzanian volumes would start arriving around February or March. This time, it may begin as early as mid-January. The earlier start shows how rapidly production is expanding."
According to Memon, the preparations for 2026 are well underway: "We expect our own volumes to continue growing, building on this year's strong performance. However, stability will be key. Volatility was the main concern this year. We hope the coming season is smoother, with more balanced imports and pricing. If supply aligns with market capacity, the industry can grow organically and sustainably."
Patka adds, "The demand is strong. Consumers are familiar with the fruit, and the category is expanding into new regions and new cuisines. The next stage is deeper penetration and consistent availability, supported by responsible importing."
For more information:
Abacate International
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