Kenya Targets Malaysia’s Avocado Market

Kenya is searching for avocado markets in Malaysia as it concludes Malaysia’s import regulations.

Francis Muhoro, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, sent a letter to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS) to complete the import requirements for commodities.

A few months after the nation started shipping its goods to China last year, securing its position as the fruit’s top exporter on the continent and the sixth largest globally, Malaysia provides an untapped market for the local industry.

Data from Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority’s Horticulture Crops Directorate (HCD) reveals that avocado shipments increased from 66 million tonnes in 2018 to 86 million tonnes in 2021.

According to Statistics, the value of avocado exports from Kenya in 2022 was expected to be $15.15 billion.

As stated by Muhoro, Kenya provides Malaysia a sizable market in industries like agroprocessing value addition, manufacturing, and tourism.

According to present trend analysis, Kenya is Malaysia’s top trading partner and a significant market for its exports.

This is about to change as Kenya tries to diversify its products more to appeal to the Malaysian market.

Muhoro spoke during the Kenya–Malaysia Business Forum held in Nairobi.

The forum aimed to improve ties between Kenya and Malaysia, particularly in the manufacturing and agroprocessing industries.

It gathered people from a variety of industries, including agriculture—soil improvement, goat and sheep vaccines; energy; building; education; ICT; general export and import of products; and logistics.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also signed an MOU during the meeting. (KLSICCI).

The MOU aims to guarantee that both chambers interact through, among other things, events, investment promotions, B2B marketing, investment promotion missions, and the sharing of market data and contacts.

The Kenya High Commission in Malaysia and the Malaysian High Commission in Kenya, among others, assisted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in organizing the trade mission.