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meEuropean importers have received the first trial shipments of Hass avocados from Ethiopia.
Durabilis, the international impact investment firm behind the company, described the news as “a revolutionary milestone that demonstrates the enormous potential of Ethiopian products.”
The fruit was grown in the Koga region, south of Bahir Dar, and shipped through the new Ethiopia-Djibouti-Europe cold logistics corridor, first transported by train to the port of Djibouti, then shipped to Italy and shipped. transported to UK by truck. .
According to Durabilis, who also owns Belgian importer FairFruit, the historic shipment presents UK and European buyers with a new window of availability of Hass avocados at competitive prices from mid-September to mid-October. It also paves the way for a whole new range of Ethiopian agricultural product exports.
The first shipment of 22.4 tonnes arrived in the UK on September 20, followed by a second shipment on October 5, 2020.
The vast majority of GlobalGAP certified fruit has been sold to two major importers serving primarily UK retailers, with volumes being offered to customers in Belgium and the Netherlands. Separately, two test air cargo shipments have been made to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
“Considering Ethiopia’s agricultural potential, this successful avocado trial creates a whole new perspective for a number of Ethiopian products that qualify for export to Europe,” said Durabilis CEO Evert Wulfrank.
The 750km refrigerated rail connection from the dry port of Modjo in Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti offers a regular and reliable service lasting 30 hours, compared to two or three days by truck.
It means that the transit time from Ethiopia to Europe is now less than 30 days, with the possibility of reducing it to 24 days in the future.
“This is important for buyers looking for new and competitive sources of fresh fruit and vegetables and who, until now, have ignored Ethiopia as a viable option because the country lacked shipping connections,” Wulfrank continued.
“We are looking for more avocado buyers in the UK, Europe and the Middle East because our projected production volumes will grow substantially and we will have a variety of sizes.”
Ethiopia has considerable agricultural potential thanks to its fertile soils, temperate climate, competitive labor costs and abundant water available within the Koga region (south of Bahir Dar), where Durabilis is working with small farmers together with its local subsidiary Koga. Veg Agricultural. Developing.
Wulfrank commented: “Ethiopia has all the ingredients to become a major supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables for Europe. The country needs companies that can pave the way for the sector by demonstrating this potential and creating demand for logistics services and agricultural inputs that allow the development of the local support sector. We would like to be one of those companies that create opportunities for Ethiopia ”.
Jan Michielsen, General Manager of Koga Veg, owned by Durabilis in Ethiopia, added: “Durabilis and Koga Veg are considered to be pioneers in shipping perishable goods by container from Ethiopia since we tested a container of peas in 2015 and a container of avocados in 2019.
“As such, the organizations behind the Ethiopia-Djibouti-Europe cold logistics corridor approached us to identify bottlenecks in Ethiopia’s logistics chain.”
Michielsen said the company’s main focus is to establish a commercially viable business model; source from small avocado producers and supply their fruit to the international market through a reliable logistical link.
“These producers have already adopted environmentally friendly production methods that meet the quality requirements for the ready-to-eat sector in Europe, for which they receive a fair price,” he said.
“In the future, we would like to invest more in more sustainable methods, efficient use of water and ultimately in certified organic production.”
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