KARACHI, July 8: Mango exporters expect five to 10 per cent increase in exports earning because of better crop, shift towards low-cost refer containers, rising number of exporters, competitive price and awareness in the UK and the Middle East markets.
However, they fear of losing five per cent share in Far Eastern markets this season because of reduction in international flights and stiff competition from Thailand and Taiwan.
They said product awareness campaign in the UK, better crop, competitive price and entry of new exporters and cut in freight cost would offset the impact of the loss.
Mango exports to Singapore dropped to 214,000 tons in July-February 2002-2003 as compared to 325,000 tons in the same period of 2001- 2002, they said. Export to Bangladesh stood at 84,000 tons in July-February 2002-2003 as compared to 155,000 tons in the same period of 2001-2002, figures of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) says.
“Revenue earning through mangoes as well as quantities are sure to go up by five to 10 per cent in this season as compared to previous season,” the EPB official said.
The chairman Pakistan Citrus Fruits and Persimmons Processors Association (PCFPPA), Rana Mohammad Sadiq has already informed the Commerce Ministry on July 3 about the diminished volume of mango exports from Pakistan in Far Eastern countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. He said in this season, Thailand and Taiwan have completely captured the Far Eastern sector due to incentives offered by their government making product competitive in these markets.
General Secretary, Pakistan Citrus and Fruit Export Board, Zaheer Ahmed said despite problems in Far East, chances are bright to ship over 52,000 tons of mango in this season as compared to 47,000 tons in the last season.
Pakistan’s overall mango exports in July-April 2002-2003 stood at 24,868 tons ($8.8 million) as compared to 22,563 tons ($8.6 million) in the same period of 2001-2002. Exports in 2001-2002 were $14 million (47,541 tons).
He said a new change has emerged in the current mango export season as sizable number of exporters have preferred sea routes for mango transportation. As a result of this, the cost of freight through refer containers Mango Price for UK by sea has dropped to Rs7 per kg from Rs72-75 by air route, while for destinations like Jeddah, Bahrain and Oman, the freight cost has come down to Rs5 per kg as compared to Rs29 per kg by air. He said 95 per cent of mango is being exported through refer containers to the Middle East.
He said China might prove a better market for Pakistani mango if the Chinese government lifted ban on Pakistani mango. He urged the government to approach the Chinese government in this regard.
Pakistan is the fourth largest exporter of mango in the world, with market share of about 15 per cent.
Mango season in Pakistan starts from May 25 and ends by middle of October.
According to official figures, of the total mango production of the country, 65 per cent comes from Punjab and 35 per cent from Sindh. In the last season, over 80 per cent of mango was shipped to the Middle East, while export to the United Kingdom accounted for almost 16 per cent out of total exports, while the rest went to the Far East.
