Rain across Punjab Province has significantly dented the remainder of Pakistan's citrus crop, with some estimates putting the losses at around 20-25 per cent.

The kinnow mandarin export season is currently in full swing and, after beginning in November, is set to end in mid-March.

The rain caught growers by surprise and they were not prepared to deal with the crisis, which could now cost them millions of rupees, Pakistan's Daily Times reported.

The price of kinnows has risen to Rs550 (US$6.50) per 40kg compared to Rs350 (US$4.13) the week before.

It is estimated the price of export-quality kinnows has increased by around 15 per cent, and according to Abdul Wahid, the former chairman of the All Pakistan Vegetable and Fruit Exporters Association, this has slowed the market.

Mr Wahid said that in the wake of the rain and price increase, it now looked doubtful whether Pakistan would meet its pre-season goal of shipping 55,000 tonnes of kinnow to Iran.

It was predicted total exports of Pakistan kinnows could reach 225,000 tonnes this season, but it seems this winter rain may have finally dashed those hopes.

'The total may be up to 20 per cent down because most of the damage is to the larger-sized fruit, and that is what the Iranian market prefers,' the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company chief operating officer Muhammad Iqbal told Fruitnet.com.

'I think the revised target will be around 200,000 tonnes and we're still hopeful of achieving that.'

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