Rwanda will launch a sea freight shipment for avocado. This move which is the country’s first shipment aims to meet the rising demand of avocado and a
Rwanda will launch a sea freight shipment for avocado. This move which is the country’s first shipment aims to meet the rising demand of avocado and also serve as alternative mode of transportation following current challenges experienced such as expensive airfreights, fragile and unreliable airfreights, and unavailable air transport systems, especially during holiday peak seasons.
The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) who reveleaed the report said the first shipment of containers carrying 23 Metric tons will head to Dubai. The agriculture exports body also will launch sea freight shipment alternatives, diverting from airfreight, in order to seek a long-term business partnership with international buyers.
Growing market
“The avocado market is evolving towards more sustainable and therefore, needs cost-effective transportation chains including sea freight. In the current production, Rwanda exports 200-250Metric tons of avocados per month. This is primarily for the UAE,” said the authority.
The authority projects a further increase in market in the future. This will be attributed to mass avocado production, from several exporters who have planted big areas, scheduled to reap in 2023. It is expected that approximately 200+ hectares will come into production in the coming years, almost doubling the avocado production in Rwanda. The Hass and Fuerte types are the most popular in Rwanda.
According to NAEB in last five years, avocado export volumes from Rwanda increased from 105.4 Metric Tons (2016/2017) to 2,765 Metric tons (2021/2022) while revenues increased from $37,155 (2016/2017) to $4,533,801 (2021/2022).