Pakistan has shipped a record 165,000 tonnes of mangoes valued at US$60m this season, Pakistan Affairs reports.
This marked a 47,000 tonne increase on last year’s 118,000 tonne shipment, which was worth US$38m.
Pakistan’s mango exports commenced with small quantities to Japan, followed by a trial shipment to Australia, according to the All-Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importer and Merchants Association’s (PFVA) newly appointed chairman, Waheed Ahmed.
Ahmed conceded that despite the record year, it had not all been plain sailing, with the UK rejecting shipments and major opportunities also lost in Japan and the US.
He added that consignments to Dubai suffered quality-related issues, causing major losses to exporters in June.
Moreover, the 30,000 tonnes Iranian market ceased to be an option for Pakistani mangoes, resulting it losses of an estimated $10m this season.
Losses were partially offset by the higher pricing that the produce enjoyed this year.
Despite the disappointment of these missed opportunities and quality issues, they do suggest that there is substantial room for the Pakistani mango export industry to grow.
Indeed, Ahmed confirmed that there remains huge demand for mango worldwide, particularly during Ramadan in markets such as Saudi Arabia, Middle East, UAE, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
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