The Kenyan avocado season is shaped by the dynamics in the Red Sea. The crisis, oscillating between calm and intensity, is changing the demand map for this season. Noor Yassin, director of Avochichi, reports on the situation.
The grower says, "We're still at an early stage of the season. The Fuerte avocado campaign started on February 7th, and the Hass avocado campaign on March 17th. However, the two campaigns are in completely different positions."
© Avochichi
The few weeks that elapsed between the launch of the two campaigns were enough to change the picture. Yassin explains that "the situation in the Red Sea was fairly calm when we launched the Fuerte campaign, with a reasonable transit time. However, hostilities have recently intensified. As a result, demand for Fuerte avocados has been very strong, while the Hass campaign is slow, almost at a standstill".
"Of all our markets, shipping has been the smoothest to Turkey with a transit time of 30 days and two departures per month, in addition to Gulf countries. We have also seen the entry of new Turkish players in avocado imports from Kenya. Fuerte deliveries to Turkey have increased remarkably for most Kenyan exporters, to the point that the fuerte campaign is expected to end earlier than usual, around June," Noord adds.
"For Hass avocados, on the other hand, I think the season will be difficult. Exporters are very cautious with the European market after last season's heavy losses due to extended delivery times. We're relying a lot on the Gulf countries," he continues.
"This had an impact on prices. For Fuerte avocados, we have obtained prices similar to those of last season. For Hass avocados, exporters are pushing for lower prices on account of the risks they are taking," the grower concludes.
For more information:
Noor Yassin
Avochichi
Tel: +254793940531
Email: noor.yassin@avochichi.com
www.avochichi.com