Ecuadorean mango exports are on course to rise slightly during 2013/14, Americafruit has learned.
Volume is tipped to increase by 5 per cent to 11.5m cartons, up from 10.8m 4kg cartons last season, according to Fundación Mango (the Ecuadorean Mango Foundation).
“The main reason for the production increase is older and more productive trees, together with very favourable weather conditions, especially during the flowering stage of the trees,” the organisation’s president, Bernardo Malo, told Americafruit.
Fundación Mango expects the US market will receive 80 per cent of the crop, with the balance headed to other destinations including Europe.
However, Malo noted that the expiration of Andean Trade preferences on 31 July could affect the total volume shipped to the US.
“Mangoes will eventually be heavily assessed upon arrival unless other free trade mechanisms are put in place soon,” he warned.
Importantly, Ecuador is anticipating a flat season this year in terms of volume concentration, which will help Ecuador achieve smooth supply transitions with other source countries.
That said, Malo admitted that there will be a slight overlap at the beginning of the season which he said must be handled “appropriately” by suppliers and importers in order to avoid an “unnecessary saturation” of the market.
Although it remains premature to predict prices, Malo is confident since demand is “growing consistently”, particularly in channels such as the fresh-cut sector, which should help to firm up the market.
The Ecuadorean mango season gets underway in November and runs through to February.
The full report will be published in the October/November issue of Americafruit.
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