A Las Vegas-headquartered fruit distributor has forecast a boom for its Kenyan avocado export deal to Hong Kong this year, after trial shipments proved successful in 2014.

Terra Exports sent two ocean containers of the fruit last year with a total volume of 10,000 cartons, but a company spokesperson told www.freshfruitportal.com the figure would reach 150,000 cartons for the 2015 campaign which began in January and runs until June.

With weekly shipments now taking place, the firm plans to expand Kenyan avocado shipments to new market in China, Southeast Asia and other global markets, banking on an offering of both "high quality and comparatively lower pricing than other major competitors".

"The market is extremely competitive and price always plays a factor. In Hong Kong (depending on the time of year) you can find avocados from Mexico, California, Australia, Chile, Peru, South Africa, Israel, and now Kenya," the spokesperson said.

"In other markets such as Dubai and Europe, Kenya avocados currently enjoy a majority market share due to their quality at the level of Mexican avocados, but priced much lower."

The company said it sourced avocados from select growers in the African country who met strict global standards and certifications.

"We're proud to have been pioneers in shipping Kenya Hass avocados to Hong Kong. It makes us happy to see our customers enjoy such a huge competitive advantage with this fruit," Terra Exports president Nils Goldschmidt said in a release.

The fruit, noted for its rich creamy texture and nutty flavor, is loaded in the port of Mombasa and takes 22-28 days to arrive in Hong Kong, often with a transit through Singapore.

"Terra Exports always uses controlled atmosphere containers to ensure quality and condition," the spokesperson said.

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