KARACHI, July 5: Local kinoo exporters fear to lose 30-40 per cent market in Indonesia in the upcoming export season because of three times increase in customs duty on Pakistani kinoo by the Indonesian government.

Pakistani Embassy in Jakarta has taken up the case with the Indonesian government and urged withdrawal of the customs duty so that Pakistani kinoo could remain in the market.

Pakistan Citrus Fruits and Persimmons Processors Association chairman Rana Mohammad Sadiq told Dawn on Saturday that Pakistan would lose 40 per cent share out of its total kinoo exports of 100,000-120,000 tons per annum worldwide.

He said the actual price of kinoo ranged between three to four dollars per pack of 10 kg, but as per assessment of the Indonesian customs they have fixed the value of kinoo at nine to 10 dollars per pack of 10 kg, which is three times higher than the actual price.

This customs policy of the Indonesian government would result in drastic erosion in exports of kinoo to Indonesia during the next harvest in 2003-04, he added.

However, an official in the Export Promotion Bureau did not agree with the claim that Pakistan would lose 40 per cent market in Indonesia. He said the share of kinoo exports to Indonesia was 30 per cent out of total kinoo exports of the country.

He said the EPB was taking up the matter with the Indonesia government to secure orders for the upcoming kinoo season.

Pakistan’s total kinoo exports during July-April 2002-03 stood at $21 million (94,000 tons) as compared to $20 million (118,371 tons) in the same period of 2001-02, figures compiled by the EPB revealed. Pakistan fetched good price of kinoo in 2002-03 despite lesser exports in quantity terms following the crop damage in February due to heavy rains and sandstorm in Punjab.