Westfalia Fruit, a key player in the avocado market, marks another significant achievement in the Indian market by introducing Kenyan avocados with the arrival of the first official sea shipment.
This milestone further advances the market development of avocados in India, expanding the range of options available to consumers and enhancing trade relations between Kenya and India.
According to freshplaza.com, the introduction of Kenyan avocados underscores the growing demand for this nutritious fruit in the region and highlights the efforts of Westfalia Fruit to provide high-quality produce to consumers worldwide.
“Building on the long-standing relationship Westfalia have with the largest Kenyan avocado grower and exporter, we are very proud to bring the first sea shipment of Kenyan avocados to India,” mentioned Zac Bard, Business Development Executive, Westfalia Fruit.
Westfalia Fruit India has established itself as the market leader and largest importer of avocados in India over the last couple of years. With over 60% market share of Tanzanian avocado imports into India, Westfalia have also successfully introduced Australian grown avocados to the local market, importing over 85% of all Australian avocados into India in the first quarter this year. With the arrival of Kenyan avocados and the recent market access confirmation for South African avocados into India, Westfalia has steady volumes of consistent quality avocados lined up for this year.
The Indian market for imported avocados has grown at 100% year-on-year for the last 2 years, and the first quarter of 2024 also points to doubling of avocado imports from approximately 4,000 metric tons in 2023 to 8,000 metric tons in 2024.
Westfalia avocados are widely distributed across the country through its national distributors – NGK Trading and Samberry Exotics, working closely with all major national retailers and wholesalers in large metros and smaller Tier-1 and 2 cities. Earlier this week, Westfalia hosted a trade launch in the southern state of Kerala strengthening its presence in a key market, which has the highest per capita consumption of the locally grown green skin avocados. Westfalia avocados will now be widely available across the country.
“East Africa will continue to be a key region for fulfilling the Indian avocado demand with its long extended season between different growing regions and Tanzania with its duty benefits into India will play an important role. With new market access granted for Australia and South Africa, it will provide us an opportunity to extend the season all year round and also supplement the East African volumes as the demand for good Hass avocados grow in India. In particular, the South African market access into India, which opened up late last month, will provide us the ability to extend late into the season and introduce exclusive cultivars like GEM®,” added Bard.
“Early immature avocados imported by some importers had a negative effect on the avocado consumption earlier this year. The Indian market – both wholesalers and retailers now clearly differentiate between Westfalia Fruit and other importers bringing in immature fruit to fill the gaps in the early season. We see that consistent supply of good quality avocados will continue to build the demand and consumption in India,” mentioned Ajay TG, General Manager, Westfalia Fruit India.
