In recent years, African avocados are gradually entering the Chinese market. On 15 November, 2023, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued an announcement that it would allow the import of Tanzanian fresh Hass avocados that meet the relevant requirements. Recently, GACC has identified the first three plantations for compliance inspection, and Tanzanian avocados are one step closer to being officially exported to China.

It is understood that GACC will carry out online remote inspection of the plantations in March, which coincides with the start of the Tanzanian avocado harvest season. The first batch of orchards to be inspected are located in the north of Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions, as well as in the south of Iringa region, and the inspection will cover multiple stages of orchard harvesting, transport, refrigeration and packaging.

Tanzania is the third largest producer of avocados in Africa after Kenya and South Africa. South African avocados also gained access to the Chinese market last year and are now actively preparing for their first shipment to China. Kenya has completed its first year of exports to China, achieving a 6 per cent market share and $7.647 million in exports in the first three quarters of 2023.

Tanzania currently exports more than 20,000 tonnes of avocado annually, valued at around $30 million. By 2026, the industry hopes to increase its annual exports to 33,000 tonnes, with an export value of about $50 million. The industry is optimistic about the opening of the Chinese market and future shipments, arguing that Kenyan avocados have the huge advantage of shorter shipping times compared to Peru, currently China's main supplier of avocados. In addition, Tanzanian authorities reportedly intend to establish a "green channel" to facilitate farm exports of fresh avocados to the Chinese market.