Middle East conflict cuts Pakistan’s mango exports as freight costs surge

Pakistan's mango industry is facing a difficult season as conflict-driven trade disruptions across the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan reduce export demand and push shipping costs sharply higher, squeezing growers and exporters of one of the country's most valuable fruit crops.

Industry estimates suggest mango exports will decline to around 80,000 tonnes this year, down by approximately 30,000 tonnes from last season, as key regional markets remain affected by conflict and trade disruptions.

Waheed Ahmed, chief patron of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, said nearly 80 per cent of Pakistan's mango exports are destined for Gulf countries, Iran and Afghanistan, all of which have faced varying degrees of instability in recent months.

According to exporters, the closure of trade routes with Afghanistan, disruptions linked to the conflict in Iran and uncertainty across the wider Middle East have reduced demand during the peak export season, which began in June.

The industry has also been hit by a sharp increase in freight charges. Ahmed said the cost of shipping a 25-tonne container of mangoes has risen to between $6,000 and $7,000 this year, compared with about $1,400 during the previous season.

Pakistan, the world's fourth-largest mango exporter, typically earns around $110 million annually from international mango sales. The country produces more than two dozen mango varieties, including the Sindhri cultivar grown widely across Sindh.

In the mango-producing district of Tando Allah Yar, orchard managers say the decline in exports has put pressure on growers and contractors who had committed funds in advance for orchard leases. Some contractors have reportedly walked away from agreements after facing mounting losses.

Although larger volumes of fruit are reaching domestic markets, weaker consumer purchasing power has limited local demand. Retail mango prices in Karachi have fallen to around Rs200 per kilogram, roughly half the level seen last year, according to market participants.

The slowdown in domestic consumption comes as households grapple with higher living costs. A government survey showed Pakistan's inflation rate rose to 10 per cent during the three months following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, compared with 5.5 per cent during the July-February period.

Exporters said a preliminary understanding reached this week to halt fighting between the United States and Iran was a positive development, but noted that it arrived too late to significantly alter the outlook for the current three-month mango season.

They warned that unless regional trade routes normalise and logistics costs ease, growers and exporters are likely to remain under pressure despite a strong harvest.