According to South African media Independent Online, on August 22 local time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture Tang Renjian, signed an agreement with South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza on South Africa's export of avocados to China.

Didiza said the South African government has been committed to opening the Chinese market for local fruit farmers. China is poised to become one of the world's leading consumers of avocados, providing a huge opportunity for the South African avocado industry to expand production.

According to the South African Avocado Industry Overview released by the SA Avocado Growers Association in May, Derek Donkin, CEO of SUBTROP, South Africa's avocado cultivation area was 2000 hectares in 1970, and the South African avocado industry grew steadily until 2003. From 2003 to 2008, the rate of expansion slowed and there was little growth. But since 2009, the total planted area has increased due to growing consumer demand for avocados. The 2023 Avocado Tree Census shows that there are about 19,500 hectares of commercially grown avocado orchards in South Africa, with about 800 hectares being added each year.

The avocado season in South Africa used to run from February to October, but as higher elevations and more southerly latitudes begin to grow avocados, the harvest can now run from February to mid-January, covering almost the entire year. The peak harvest is still between February and August, but the harvest will increase in September and January as fruit trees in the newly planted areas begin to yield in full. Eighty percent of the avocado trees grown in South African nurseries are Hass with dark skin and Hass characteristic varieties such as Carmen, Gem, Lamb-Hass and Maluma. The remaining 20% of avocado trees are the Fuerte, Pinkerton, Ryan and Reed varieties.

It is estimated that the South African avocado industry produces 139,400 tonnes per year for three years, of which 45% is exported, mainly to the European Union and the United Kingdom. The rest of the avocados are for domestic consumption, with about 10% used for processing avocado oil and puree. The total production of avocados in South Africa in 2021 was 135,742 tonnes, increasing to 147,129 tonnes in 2022.

South Africa is the largest exporter of avocados in Africa, exporting to Europe, the Middle East and other Southern African countries. South Africa is forecast to export about 18 million cases of avocados this year, up nearly 2 million cases or nearly 10% from 16.3 million cases last year. Domestic demand for avocados in South Africa has also increased in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In addition to South Africa, major African avocado producers are Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with Kenya and Tanzania having received market access to China in June and November 2022, respectively. Kenyan avocados began exporting to China in July last year, and according to the Kenya Avocado Association, exports exceeded $57 million in 2022. Chinese customs statistics show that as of July 2023, China has imported 3,674 tons of Kenyan avocados worth 47.46 million yuan this year.