Pakistan’s kinnow exports have taken a blow with a raised Iran raised tariff on the fruit this season, hitting US$1,300 per tonne.

The rate is a dramatic increase on an already high tariff, which last year was at 45 per cent, or about US$400 per tonne, reported Pakistan Online News.

Iran is one of Pakistan’s chief export destinations for the kinnow mandarin, and the tariff rise has put exporters in doubt over the future of the market, according to a press release from the Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC).

A drop in kinnow exports to Iran is expected to put around 200 kinnow post-harvest processing operations out of business around the north-eastern citrus hub of Sargodha.

Pakistan’s kinnow crop is expected to increase in volume this year by 30 per cent on last season, exporter Imrana Shakoor of Roshan Enterprises told Fruitnet.com.

Picking will start around 20 November this year, and the season will be in full swing by 15 December.

“Russia, Ukraine, Malaysia and Singapore are the prime markets to promote and penetrate this season,” Mr Shakoor explained. “The Far East and Middle East are the traditional markets we export to.”

Last season’s exports were marred by a high local purchase price for kinnows and sluggish foreign demand.

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