Tanzania's avocado exports hit 52,000 tonnes, passing 2030 target; China among markets

Tanzania's avocado exports reached 52,000 tonnes in the 2025/2026 season, passing the country's 2030 target of 40,000 tonnes, the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA) said on Thursday 8 October, according to a Xinhua report from Dar es Salaam dated 9 October.

Xinhua said exports rose by 237 per cent from 15,432.77 tonnes in the 2020/2021 season. Foreign exchange earnings rose by 120.4 per cent, from US$44.2 million to US$97.2 million.

Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo opened the third National Avocado Stakeholders Conference in the capital, Dodoma, Xinhua reported. Tanzania's The Citizen newspaper reported on 8 October that he told the conference exports had reached 52,000 tonnes in 2025/2026.

Xinhua said Tanzania has expanded its avocado export markets to include China, the Netherlands, India, the United Arab Emirates, France and South Africa.

National avocado production rose by 36.24 per cent, from 149,340 tonnes to 203,473 tonnes, according to the COPRA statement cited by Xinhua.

Chongolo said the result showed the crop's growing contribution to employment, investment and farmers' incomes, Xinhua reported. He added that more effort was needed to raise productivity and make sure farmers benefit from the growing industry.

Xinhua said Chongolo told the conference the government distributed 129,986 avocado seedlings in the 2025/2026 season and plans to distribute 500,000 more in 2026/2027. The government also allocated 3 billion Tanzanian shillings, about US$1.2 million, for 20 avocado collection centres across 13 local government authorities.

For 2026/2027, COPRA plans to strengthen collection and storage infrastructure, formalise trading systems and encourage more private investment in processing and value addition, according to Xinhua.