Published: 08 August 2017

ZIMBABWE'S revenue from avocado exports increased by over 301.9 percent to $4.2 million last year from $1 million in 2012 driven mainly by large-scale avocado producers in Manicaland.

In a monthly newsletter for July, the country's national export promotion and trade development agency, ZimTrade said that official data from Trademap, indicated the major destination markets for avocados from Zimbabwe were The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Germany.

"The major destination markets for Zimbabwe's avocado exports in 2016 were The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Germany accounting for 68.3 percent, 13.4 percent, 9.0 percent and 6.6 percent respectively.

"ZimTrade, therefore, urges both small and large-scale avocado producers to consolidate their orders and increase exports to markets such as the European Union, United States of America and Asia," it said.

According to Asiafruit Magazine of May 2017, the export promotion and development body said soaring global demand has pushed avocado to their highest level in almost 20 years.

This follows a reduction in output from major source markets such as Mexico, Peru and California.

"According to Bloomberg data released in April 2017, a 10 kg carton of Hass avocados from the State of Michoacan, Mexico was being sold for $27.89, more than double what it cost at the same time in 2016, reaching a 19-year high," said ZimTrade.

Global demand for avocados increased by 120.1 percent from $2.2 billion in 2012 to $4.9 billion in 2016. The USA, which accounted for 40.4 percent of global imports of avocados in 2016, recorded a rapid increase in per capita consumption of the highly nutritious fruit from just over 1.5 kilogrammes in 2006 to more than three kg in 2015. Increased consumption in other countries such as China, Spain, UK and Germany, among others has put additional pressure on present supply thereby driving global prices higher.

Meanwhile, ZimTrade said five regulatory authorities have started implementing some of the reforms recommended under the Rapid Results Initiative for the Ease of Doing Export Business.

"The RRI adopted a 'business unusual' approach and recommended reforms to improve the business landscape for exporters. While some of the recommendations are still going through the administrative and legislative processes, it is encouraging to note that some Government ministries and regulatory authorities have now confirmed that they have started implementing some of the reforms," it said.

Some of the regulatory authorities that have agreed to implement the necessary reforms include the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe.
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