Morocco overtakes Kenya as Africa’s top avocado exporter in 2025

MOROCCO – Morocco has overtaken Kenya to become Africa’s largest avocado exporter in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the FAO Tropical Fruits Market Review.

The report shows that total African avocado exports grew by 16.7 percent to about 430,000 tons this year, supported by strong demand in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

Morocco increased its export volumes by around 90 percent year on year to about 141,000 tons. This growth placed the North African country at the top of the continent for the first time.

Kenya dropped to second place after its export volumes fell by 19 percent to an estimated 105,164 tons in 2025.

The FAO links Kenya’s decline mainly to logistics problems. Security concerns near the Suez Canal forced many carriers to avoid the Red Sea route and sail around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift extended transit times to Europe and raised freight charges. Longer journeys affected fruit quality, especially for the European Union, which remains Kenya’s main export market.

An exporter based in Murang’a said the delays created uncertainty for suppliers. “When vessels take longer to reach Europe, the fruit arrives with less shelf life. Buyers become cautious, and that affects orders,” he said.

In late 2025, Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority suspended some avocado shipments by sea in a move to protect export standards. Authorities allowed certain consignments to move by air during that period. Air freight costs rose sharply, with rates in some cases doubling to about US$4 per kilogram from around US$2 per kilogram. Exporters said the higher charges reduced margins.

Production trends and market outlook

Despite weaker exports, production trends show a different picture. Output fell in 2024, but industry sources expect a 4 percent increase in 2025 due to expanded planted areas and improved yields. Counties such as Murang’a, Kiambu, and Nakuru continue to increase acreage under Hass and Fuerte varieties.

A sector official said the industry must address logistics gaps. “We have the fruit and we have the demand. What we need now is reliable shipping and strict quality control so that Kenya can regain lost ground,” he said.

Across Africa, global avocado shipments rose by about 13 percent in 2025. However, exporters now depend not only on farm output but also on route stability, cold chain systems, and compliance measures as competition on the continent grows stronger.

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