Prices for imported mangos from South America have remained strong, and the labour dispute between workers and operators on West Coast ports has led to slower moving cargo and higher fruit prices.“The mango market is still high,” said Gary Clevenger of Freska Produce International. “The East Coast recently had a storm, but they're drying out from that and are starting to receive fruit.” The bigger concern for shippers sending fruit from Ecuador and Peru is the difficulty getting their mangos through West Coast ports.
“A lot of Peruvian shippers are diverting their shipments east because of western problems,” said Clevenger. “So a little more fruit is available in the East than in the West.” As a result, prices have been higher where the port problems are. On January 30, prices for a flat of Kent 7s from Peru were between $8.00 and $9.00 at the Philadelphia port of entry and at South Florida ports of entry. But at Southern California ports of entry, that same flat of Kent 7s ranged in price from $11.00 to $12.00.
“Shipments from Peru have already peaked, even though those peak shipments haven't arrived yet on the West Coast,” said Clevenger. “After those shipments there will be a few weeks with little fruit on hand, and then we won't have good volumes until Mexico kicks in around mid or late-March. Until then, the market should remain strong.”
For more information:
Gary Clevenger
Freska Produce International
+1 805 650 1040