The export target for mangoes this season has been set at 100,000 tonnes by the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA). Mango exports are expected to proceed from May 20th 2017. Mango produce from Punjab which was estimated to be at 1.8m tonnes this season may reduce to 600,000 tonnes in light of poor weather conditions attributed to hailstorms and extended winter season which had hampered the crop as a result.
Mangoes from Pakistan are exported to 50 countries globally and this season special focus would be given to South Korea, China and the United States the PFVA spokesman said. According to PFVA’s Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed, the current year’s mango produce had sustained massive losses and hence the export target had been set at 100,000 tonnes for this season. He also mentioned that due to unpredictable weather patterns, 50pc of the mango crop had been severely affected.
Pakistan had last year exported 128,000 tonnes of mangoes and according to Ahmed “Pakistan is expected to fetch $68m if it achieves the annual export target.” Punjab has a lion’s share of 67.1pc in the total mango production of the country. Ahmed mentioned that exports to Europe will be improved this season and this year the export value of mango would be around $650 per tonne in comparison to the previous year’s value of $680-700, he concluded.
