Tanzania expands avocado exports to China
Move marks growing agricultural trade between Africa and Asia.
TANZANIA – China’s growing appetite for African produce is drawing Tanzania into the spotlight as the country prepares to debut its avocados at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
Chrises Real Solutions Company Limited, based in Dodoma and led by chief executive officer Juliana Yotham Mwalyepelo, is preparing to present Tanzanian avocados at the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
Mwalyepelo said the company focuses on avocado farming, land investment, and exports of agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee, and honey. Founded in 2018 with a 1.8-hectare avocado farm, the company has since grown to 11 hectares with plans for further expansion.
“We started small, but now we have expanded to an 11-hectare farm and are looking to acquire more land,” she said. “Our goal is to export avocados directly to global markets, particularly China, without relying on intermediaries.”
Situated at about 1,800 meters above sea level, Njombe offers fertile soils and a cool climate ideal for avocado cultivation. Mwalyepelo said their fruits are fully organic. “The avocados from Njombe are 100 percent organic,” she explained.
“We don’t use chemical fertilizers or artificial pesticides. We rely on natural manure from our cows, which provides nutrients for the trees.”
She said the company is paying close attention to what Chinese buyers want. “Chinese consumers are sophisticated and have specific tastes. We will listen to what they prefer and adapt our practices accordingly,” she noted.
Beyond fresh exports, Mwalyepelo hopes to expand into processing. “We hope to exchange expertise and attract investment in processing facilities so that in the future, we can export processed avocado products, such as oil, puree, or frozen avocados, instead of only fresh fruit,” she added.
Broader trade shift between Africa and China
According to Cathy Wang, director general of the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center Limited, 15 Tanzanian companies will attend this year’s CIIE, introducing products including avocados, soybeans, honey, and tea.
“We are delighted to see that Tanzanian avocados are making their debut at the CIIE this year, bringing a new surprise to Chinese consumers,” Wang said.
Tanzania’s entry into the Chinese avocado market comes barely a month after Zimbabwe gained approval to export blueberries to China. The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) confirmed on September 4 that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding, allowing Zimbabwe to begin exports once the fruit meets China’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
“This agreement is a milestone for the Zimbabwean horticultural sector,” said HDC director general Linda Nielsen. “It is now necessary to collaborate in order to design policies that promote investment, increase production to reach the required volumes and ensure that our blueberries meet China’s strict quality and phytosanitary standards.”
The momentum follows another trade deal announced in August when South Africa secured approval to export five stone fruits, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes, to China. Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen said the agreement marks the first time China has accepted multiple fruit products in one negotiation.
“This will open doors for stone fruit into China, and the next mission thereafter will be cherries and mangos, and we are already advanced in terms of negotiations there,” he said.
Together, these developments show how African countries are strengthening ties with China’s growing food market, tapping into demand for high-quality fruit from across the continent.
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