Solid Sales Despite Price Increase for Pakistani Mangoes

When the Pakistani Mango season commenced on May 20 this year, industry officials reported a sizable production loss primarily due to extreme weather conditions. It was predicted that 30% of the mango production would be affected, which would result in a decrease in the mango supply. However, according to major exporters in Pakistan, the production of mangos in the Punjab region was not as affected not as initially expected. But due to cooler weather this season, mango harvesting started late for all varieties and the harvest was delayed by approximately 7 to 10 days compared to the previous year. 

Despite the later harvest, this year’s export price of Pakistani mangos has increased by 5% to 7% compared to last year. The main reason for this increase was surging demands in export markets. International factors such as the devaluation of rupee and an increase in freight charges also played a significant role.

Despite the price increase, all major markets, including the UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, are showing a keen interest in the Pakistani mangoes. “We are expecting to sell an additional 1,000 metric tons of mango this year compared to last year,” Roomi Foods (Pvt) Ltd. said. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the top export destination for Pakistani mangoes as the export to the UAE registered an increase of 31.9% over the last year. The UK is the second top importer of Pakistani mangoes, as it imported 12.1K tons worth 419 million PKR in 2018. In Europe and the Middle East, Pakistan is competing with Indian mangoes, whilst it is vying with Thai and the Philippino exporters in Japan. 

Recently, inquiries from Chinese buyers have started pouring in. They are expressing a deep interest in importing Pakistani mangoes. Once that relationship is fully developed, it is estimated that 20K tons of mangoes could be conveniently exported and so China could emerge as the next big market for Pakistan. 

Pakistani mango has a unique taste that is superior to mangoes from other origins. The most popular export varieties are SB Chaunsa, White Chaunsa, and Sindhri. Currently, major markets, such as China and Australia, are closed to these varieties as the Pakistani mangoes do not yet comply with local hygiene and packaging standards. In recent years, the Pakistani government and the exporters have put great efforts into improving their products to meet the export standards of high-value markets like the European Union and Japan. 

“We have been penetrating into those markets with effective marketing, building trust to deliver consistent quality. We fully support our buyers with customer service and claim management,” said Umair Mushtaq, Business Development Manager of Roomi Foods (Pvt) Ltd.