US Mango Winter Import Season Projected to Increase on South American Supplies

Published Jan 16, 2023

US Mango imports have continued to increase due to the growing popularity of tropical fruit over the last few years. During winter, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, three of the leading mango exporters to the US market, have seen very positive growth in volume over the season. The total volume for the remainder of the winter months is about 24% higher than the previous season, driven by Peruvian shipments. Additionally, Colombian mangoes have arrived in the US for the first time, and mangoes from the Dominican Republic have also increased their volumes to the US.

According to the National Mango Board (NMB), South America’s mango supplies have been steady and large in volume during the winter season. Although Peru dominates the US market during the winter season, other southern hemisphere producers have also increased their exported volume during this time. The large volumes imported to the US attest to the increasing demand for mangoes in the US, which is projected to keep growing steadily until 2029.

Both mango supply and demand in the US have increased steadily over the years and are set to continue to do so as the world’s most consumed fruit becomes increasingly popular. The US’ main mango supplier is Mexico, which dominates the market from February until August, with larger volumes expected during March and April—leaving the winter season for Peruvian, Brazilian, Thai, and Ecuadorian mangoes, among others.

For the 2022 season, Mexican mangoes are calculated to have reached nearly 62 million boxes, a 5% YoY increase. Around 90% of the total mango shipped were destined for the US market, and it is calculated that Mexico supplies around 64% of the mangoes imported into the US. The last season's increase in Mexican mango exports has been followed by a very active winter season from South American suppliers, with most of them increasing their volumes.

According to the NMB current data projections, the volume for the remainder of the winter months is set to be about 24% higher compared to the previous season. The increase will be driven by Peruvian mangoes, which are currently in peak season and will run until the last week of March. The current expectations for the Peruvian season are 24% YoY, with a projected total volume of 22 million boxes.

In the last week of 2022, mango shipments reached 14.9 thousand mt, 54% higher than what was shipped during the same week of 2021. In the accumulated of the campaign, Peruvian mango shipments totaled 81 thousand mt, a 25% growth compared to the previous period. From all of the destinations of the current campaign, the US leads as the main one with 41% of the export share.

Ecuadorian mangoes, which closed their season in the last week of December, have calculated a 5% increase over the last year, with a total volume of approximately 13.8 million boxes. The Dominican Republic has also increased its import numbers to the US with a 7% YoY increase to 1.7 million boxes, placing the country as the 7th largest exporter of mangoes. Furthermore, Colombian mangos entered the US market this winter season for the first time with high expectations for the mango sector in Colombia.

Another important reason for mangoes’ surging popularity is rising production volumes. In some production countries, such as Peru and Ecuador, additional orchards have been planted and come into production, while in other areas, improvements in production efficiency have generated higher yields per hectare.