The damage from Typhoon Talim, which blew through Taiwan late last month, is still being felt weeks later in the produce business, with mango export supplies significantly down in recent weeks.
Prices have spiked as a result of the shortages, which have been particularly significant for the headline Irwin (Apple) mango variety.
“The Taiwan Irwin crop was already light, but the recent typhoon rains have really knocked the supply around,” said Michael Silm, international trade manager of Australia’s Montague Fresh, which had planned a Taiwanese mango promotion in coming weeks.
“The Japan market is paying crazy pricing now, so this means the pricing levels offered to Australia are really high and not workable at this moment.”
In Australia some importers have looked to the Golden King variety to keep the newly developing Taiwanese mango presence going, and while the huge variety proved popular and was selling for A$10-13 per piece, its brief season has now wrapped up.
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