W18: Mango Update

In W18 in the mango landscape, in Krishnagiri, India, a 15-acre farm of 1.35K mango trees was cut down due to a severe infestation of Mango thrips. The thrips, a common pest that feeds on mango trees, had become resistant to pesticides over the past four years, causing significant losses for farmers. A disease assessment report presented during a meeting between mango farmers and the pulp industry revealed a tentative production loss of 53% in the major mango-growing farms of the region. The use of excessive pesticides, the application of growth regulators, and the proximity of large mango farms were contributing factors to complete crop losses. The Joint Director of Horticulture suggested conducting a research-based study and exploring organic farming methods to address the crisis in the next season. The Mexican mango season, which had a slow start in March and April, has picked up momentum due to favorable weather conditions. Peak volume is expected from concurrent production in Chiapas, Michoacan, and Nayarit. Good volumes throughout June are anticipated, with sizing improvements expected after light rains in Mexican mango groves.

On the other hand, representatives of the South Korean government recently audited five mango exporters in the São Francisco Valley region of Pernambuco and Bahia states in Brazil. The audit marks the resumption of work after a three-year interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), through the Federal Superintendence of Pernambuco (SFA/PE), supervised the visit, which was also attended by ValeExport, an organization representing all the export companies operating in the São Francisco Valley. The delegation from South Korea, led by an inspector from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), inspected the operations. South Korea continues to receive mango exports from these five exporters in the region, and the export of fruits to South Korea remained unaffected during the pandemic. Vietnam is the third largest mango supplier for the Republic of Korea. However, mango imports from Vietnam only account for 5.8% of the Asian country's total. In Vietnam, the Hoa Loc sand mango crop was priced at USD 1.70-2.34/kg (VND 40,000-55,000/kg), a decrease of USD 0.85/kg (VND 20,000 /kg) compared to the same period in 2022.

Lastly, Peru exported 249.31K tons of fresh mangoes from the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign until the end of W15, an increase of 7.3% compared to the 232.27K tons shipped during the previous campaign. In addition, Peru exported 1,027 tons of mangoes in W18, an increase of 22% compared to the same week in the previous 2021/22 campaign. Peruvian mangoes were exported to twenty-three markets, with three countries accounting for 71% of the shipments, Spain (32%), the Netherlands (29%), and France (10%). However, the mango campaign in Moro and the Nepeña Valley of Peru has ended with disappointing results for producers. Low prices and adverse weather conditions have posed challenges. Many producers have incurred significant losses, with some expressing bankruptcy. The price of premium mangoes for export by air started at USD 0.49/kg (PEN 1.8/kg) in 2022, and only a few farmers managed to sell their air mangoes for USD 0.82/kg (PEN 3/kg). In the domestic market, mango prices reached USD 0.14/kg (PEN 0.5/kg), a decrease of 50% compared to the previous year. Due to the low prices, many farmers choose to let their mangoes spoil or bury them, as selling them was not profitable. The lack of water earlier in the year and intense rains caused by the Yaku cyclone resulted in low production and compromised fruit quality. These weather conditions also created a favorable environment for pests and diseases, further impacting crop development. The Service for Comprehensive Rural Development (SEDIR) has observed that producers faced liquidity issues, which may jeopardize financing for the 2024 campaign.