The Senegalese mango industry appears to be recovering after three years of poor performance impacted by climatic factors. "Demand for organic mangoes is so strong we're barely keeping up," says Amadou Ndiaye Seck, manager of A.N.S Inter-Export.
The exporter adds, "We are at the full swing of the mango season, and demand is so strong this year that shipping companies were overwhelmed this weekend. It's a welcome change after several difficult seasons."
"Demand is mainly from European Union countries, with unusual orders coming from countries like Canada. At ANS Intrer-Export, we have already exported three times the volume we exported the entire last season," Seck continues.
© Amadou
The strong demand has been reflected in prices, which have increased by 15-20% compared to the previous season in the organic mango sector, according to the exporter. "We can now refuse deliveries at too low prices, which is a boost for the industry after so many years of poor results," he adds.
The Senegalese mango interprofession had announced signs of strong demand this year and a significant improvement in production, setting a target of 35,000 tons to be exported this season. But Seck remains cautious: "I think it's too ambitious a target. There is certainly strong demand, but it will take time to reach that milestone. We mustn't forget that last season, only 9,000 tons of mangoes were exported by Senegal, compared to 21,000 exported in 2021. We will have to wait until next season and see consistent production conditions to achieve a record export."
"The rains are already coming, which creates fruit fly outbreaks and halts exports to Europe. Nevertheless, I think we will reach a figure similar to that of 2021, which means a much-needed recovery for the sector," Seck adds.
The industry has been able to avoid a delay in flowering this year, and therefore in the start of the season, while making great progress in controlling fruit flies. However, the downside is the high density of fruit on the trees, leading to an abundance of small sizes. Seck says, "This is not a problem for us since small sizes are appreciated in organic fruit, but it is more of a problem for our colleagues who export conventional mangoes. However, they are managing to cope and are also benefiting from strong demand."
For more information:
Amadou Ndiaye Seck
A.N.S Inter-Export
Tel: +221 70 645 54 95
Email: [email protected]
