Overview
Lebanon is making great strides to join the cohorts of renowned exporters of avocados in the world. The country has a great opportunity to increase its market share in Europe and the Middle East. The planted area under avocados, especially Hass, is increasing fast.
At the moment there are 5 avocado farms GlobalGAP certified.
Varieties
Apart from the Hass and Lebanon also produces the bigger Lambhass variety,
Ettinger, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Reed varieties. These avocado varieties are popular in the MENA region and the Gulf markets.
Production
The area under avocadoes increased by 56% between 2015 and 2020 to 1,533 ha, while production increased by 51% to 18,623 tons in 2020.*
Exports
The country’s exports of avocados have grown from USD 0.6 mn in 2015 to USD 4.7 million in 2021. Over the next few years, growth will further accelerate to satisfy the growing demand for avocados in the region and the European market.**
Destinations
Most destination countries for Lebanese-exported avocados are in the Middle Eastern region. Jordan and Saudi Arabia top the list followed by Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, UAE and Oman.
European countries still lag behind with an exception of Ukraine. Market entry efforts are picking up in markets like Germany, Russian Federation, Sweden, UK and France. Supported by GlobalGAP certification, growing exports to European countries are expected in the next few years.
Availability
* Production data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2022
** Trade data from Trade Map – International Trade Centre, 2022
