Indian mango exports are likely to lose ground in a number of key markets this season, according to media reports.
The New India Expess has claimed export volumes to Australia, Japan and the US will decline for the second straight year, as exporters in Pakistan and Mexico ramp-up their operations in these markets.
Japan did not import any Indian-grown mangoes over the past season, while exports to the US fell by 1,000 tonnes between the 2011-2012 and 2012-13 seasons.
Australian exports fell by 2,000kg over the same time period.
As demand in these markets dwindles, so does the commercial viability of India’s export programmes.
“We need a decent profit from these countries in order to sell, but that is not happening,” an unnamed official from the Karnataka Agriculture Produce Export Corporation (KAPEC) told the Express.
“If we have commercially successful markets in Europe, we ought to be able to export successfully to Japan, the US and Australia.”
In a bid to reclaim their market shares, Indian exporters are investing in promotional programmes, aimed at increasing the profile of the varieties grown in the country.
“Mexico poses stiff competition in the US markets with their mangoes,” the KAPEC official said.
“Indian mangoes are far superior to them in quality, we have to create this awareness.”
Indian exporters are also looking at ways to reduce expensive overhead costs, created by the need to tailor quarantine programmes to meet the requirements each individual market.
“Japan insists on mangoes being subjected to Vapour Heat Treatment,” Dr Abraham Verghese, Director, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects explained to the Express.
“The USA and Australia buy only irradiated fruits while other countries specify hot water treatment.
“We need to comply with the rules so that we can sell our fruits in these countries.”
