NAIROBI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — Kenya on Friday announced the closure of avocado exports by sea for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, effective Oct. 20, citing low harvest volumes.
Bruno Linyiru, director-general of the state-owned Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), said the decision aims to ensure that only mature avocados are harvested, following a nationwide survey of key production zones.
“The findings indicate that there is currently insufficient volume of main season crop to warrant sea shipment,” Linyiru said in a statement released in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
He noted that exports of Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton, and Jumbo varieties will continue by air, provided they meet traceability requirements.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya’s main avocado export markets include the European Union and the United Arab Emirates, with China emerging as a growing destination.
The AFA added that it will continue to monitor avocado maturity trends and review the export suspension in the second week of January 2026.
