Pakistani mangoes at high prices

The mango export season is currently at its peak in Pakistan, and according to Mateen Siddiqui, Chief Executive of Rishad Mateen & Company, things so far are going well and the flow is really high. "We are exporting three or four kinds of mango, but mainly the Sindhri and the Chaunsa.”

He says that demand has actually increased by about 10% this year and believes that the main reason for this is the fact that Pakistani mangoes have captured some market share from India. "In terms of destinations, the UK and Europe are very important for Pakistan. We are also seeing some increase in the local market, but Asians are really not interested in Pakistani mangoes.”

One of the key reasons why Pakistani mangoes are popular in Europe and the UK is not just because of their health properties, but also because of their reputation as being free from phytosanitary issues. “We have a hot water treatment plan, which prevents all kinds of diseases, and the fruit is checked by a local body before exporting.



For his part, Furqan Khalid of Roshan Enterprises, which works exclusively with contracted farms, affirms that the season started on 22/23 May and the current market is good, better than last year. The quality, demand and even the sizes are better, which he attributes to the fact that growers have been paying more attention to the quality.

At the moment, a total of around 35 tonnes are being shipped daily to Europe (where consumers of Asian descent are targeted), although exports also go to the Middle and Far East, where the fruit is growing in popularity.

According to Khalid, the main reason for this is that these markets are now easier to reach. As for prices, they currently stand at between 3 and 4 pounds per kg (around 3 pounds/kg in the wholesale market) which is considered rather high. “I also believe prices will continue to increase, because the farmers are increasing their prices in Pakistan and there is no overlap with the Indian season,” he concludes.



Lastly, Majid Ahmad, Director of the National Fruit Processing Factory, also says that prices are really high at the moment due to Ramadan and the big demand in Afghanistan. As a result, the local market farmers are getting good money. There is also a smaller production than last season in the Sindh province, which is another important reason for the higher prices.

He also adds that in a few days, the harvest will start in the Punjab province and prices may go down. “But because of the hot conditions, we believe that, in the coming days, the mangoes will ripen earlier, so the mango season will be shorter and with less exports. Sizes may also be smaller,” says Ahmad.