Morocco has overtaken Kenya as Africa's top avocado exporter in 2025

Morocco has claimed the crown as Africa’s leading avocado exporter, with shipments soaring 90% year-on-year to 141,000 tonnes in 2025 (FAO data). Kenya, the previous leader, saw exports drop 19% to 105,164 tonnes, hampered by Red Sea shipping disruptions. Continent-wide, African avocado exports rose 16.7% to 430,432 tonnes.

Systems, Not Just Volume, Drive the Shift

Morocco’s edge stems from heavy investment in efficient irrigation, coordinated commercial orchards, and seamless logistics to Europe. While Kenya remains a high-output producer alongside South Africa and Tanzania, logistical bottlenecks exposed vulnerabilities in export chains. Emerging players like Ethiopia, Malawi, Cameroon, and Uganda are scaling fast.

Green Gold: From Acreage to Execution

Africa’s avocado boom is evolving from raw production growth to a systems-driven race. Success now hinges on post-harvest handling, cold-chain reliability, certifications, and resilient logistics. Countries mastering these will lead the next phase of the “green gold” economy, turning sustained global demand into lasting competitive advantage.