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Export markets
Kenyan and Tanzanian avocados, avocado oil and dried fruit for South Africa
South Africa is Africa's most developed avocado industry, with Limpopo and Mpumalanga Hass harvested from March to October. From November to March South African retailers, wholesalers at the Johannesburg and Cape Town fresh produce markets and food service distributors import, and that is when Tanzanian Hass from our East African origins is at its peak, with Kenyan fruit following from March. We supply South African importers through Durban and Cape Town, and we supply crude and refined avocado oil, dried mango and aseptic purees to South African food, cosmetics and beverage manufacturers all year. We also work with South African exporters and processors as a partner rather than a rival: counter season supply for their European programmes, oil supply, and consultancy across East Africa.
Buyers
Built for South African importers, retailers and the industry itself
South African buyers set the benchmark for avocado quality in Africa and expect imports to match their own Class 1 Hass on dry matter, sizing and ripening. Importers want a short route and clean documentation for the November to March window; food and cosmetics manufacturers want avocado oil, dried mango and purees with a COA and consistent supply; South African exporters and processors want a reliable East African partner for counter season programmes, oil and regional expansion. Our own 200 hectare plantation and registered partner orchards in Kenya and Tanzania give us the fruit, our processing gives us the oil, independent preloading inspection on every consignment gives your quality team the data before the vessel sails, and our consultancy has worked across five East African countries since 2023.
Products
What we ship to South Africa
Market access
Market access and compliance for South Africa
Logistics
Logistics from Kenya to South Africa
Season calendar
When each product is available for South Africa
Tanzanian Hass peaks from November to March, the South African off season, with Kenyan Hass following from March to October when South Africa is in its own season; oil, dried fruit, purees and chillies ship all year.
| Product | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hass avocado (Kenya) | ||||||||||||
| Hass avocado (Tanzania) | ||||||||||||
| Green skin (Fuerte, Pinkerton) | ||||||||||||
| Apple mango | ||||||||||||
| MD2 pineapple | ||||||||||||
| Passion fruit | ||||||||||||
| Fresh herbs and chillies | ||||||||||||
| Avocado oil, dried, frozen, macadamia, purees |
Consultancy
Consultancy for trading with South Africa
For South African exporters and processors
Counter season Kenyan and Tanzanian fruit for your European and Gulf programmes, crude avocado oil supply, and feasibility, implementation and local partner services for expansion into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
For importers
Origin audits and supplier development in East Africa, DALRRD import documentation support, consolidated mixed containers for the November to March window.
Trade fairs and industry
We meet South African buyers and growers at Fruit Logistica Berlin and Fruit Attraction Madrid, follow the South African avocado industry closely, and host South African visitors at our orchards and processing operations.
Questions buyers ask
Before you request an offer for South Africa
When does South Africa import avocados?
South African Hass from Limpopo and Mpumalanga is harvested from about March to October. Imports run from November to March, which is the Tanzanian peak in our East African supply, so East African Hass is the natural off season supply for South African retailers and wholesalers.
Do you compete with South African exporters?
In Europe our seasons overlap in part, but we work with South African exporters as partners: supplying counter season fruit for their programmes from November to March, supplying crude avocado oil, and acting as feasibility consultant and local partner for South African companies expanding into East Africa.
What import permit does South Africa require?
The importer obtains a DALRRD plant import permit before shipment. We provide the KEPHIS phytosanitary certificate, orchard and packhouse registrations and the other documents the permit application and import inspection require.
Can South African manufacturers buy avocado oil, dried mango and purees from you?
Yes. Crude and refined avocado oil in drums, IBCs or flexitanks, dried mango in bulk cartons or retail packs under your label, and aseptic mango and passion fruit puree in drums and bag in box, all with a batch certificate of analysis and shipped in dry containers to Durban or Cape Town all year.
How do we see the quality before the container sails?
Fruit Quality Studio Africa, the Kenyan arm of Quality Studio Europe, inspects every consignment at the packhouse and issues a preloading QC report on dry matter, defects, sizing and pulp temperature, which we share with you before the vessel departs.
Can you start with a trial order?
Yes. Most programmes for South Africa begin with one container to Durban, or a pallet by air for herbs, chillies and samples, before moving to fortnightly or weekly programme volumes.
Other markets
More export markets we serve
Products
Our full export range
Our partners
Independent quality control and transparent trade, built into every shipment
Two partners work alongside our own team on every export programme, so buyers see the fruit before it sails and know the price before they commit.
Fruit Quality Studio Africa
Independent avocado quality control, the Kenyan arm of Quality Studio Europe. Every consignment is inspected at the packhouse before loading, with a preloading QC report on dry matter, defects, sizing and pulp temperature shared with the buyer, and arrival inspection in Europe on request or as agreed per programme.
qualitystudio.eu →
SAFTA, Fruit Trade Assistance: Sales Execution Office, Antwerp
Our partner Sales Execution Office in Antwerp, Belgium. SAFTA is not a buyer of our fruit: it sells Konza Tropicals avocados on our behalf to retailers, importers and ripeners across Europe and executes each programme from offer to payment, with fixed and transparent pricing, programme contracts, cold chain from packhouse to destination and SAFTA Rescue support for shipments in European ports, so growers and importers both know where they stand.
fruittradeassistance.com →Contact
Let us talk fruit
We work from Kenya with partner orchards and exporters in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and we answer email during East African, European and Gulf business hours.