Pakistan kinnows on tree

Iran is to lower its customs duty on Kinnow imports from 90 per cent to 4 per cent a month earlier than usual this year, reports Freshplaza.com.

The unexpected move to bring forward its habitual Kinnow tariff cut from February 4 to January 5 represents a boon for Pakistani Kinnow grower-shippers, who consider Iran a key export market.

'The government of Iran normally relaxes this tariff from February 4 to protect Iranian farmers who produce mandarins themselves,' Saleem Sadruddin of Pakistani Kinnow exporter Sadruddin & Co said. 'However, this season Iran has suddenly relaxed this tariff from January 5.'

Pakistan's Kinnow crop is 30 per cent down on last year, with the majority of sizes suitable for the Iranian market,' Mr Sadruddin said.

'Demand from all regions is constantly increasing as January sees the decrease in supply from Turkish regions.'