Australian mandarin exports face a crisis if Indonesia does not alter the import quotas it has imposed on a range of fruit and vegetables, the managing director of key exporter BGP International Neil Barker has warned.
Barker has appealed to the Australian minister for trade, Craig Emerson, to reach an agreement with the Indonesian government to avoid the Australian mandarin industry incurring significant losses.
“This problem needs urgent attention at the highest government to government level,” said Barker.
Last year, Australian exported 5,640 tonnes of mandarins to Indonesia between April and December, a market worth A$8.89m (US$9.13m).
Indonesia introduced quotas on a range of fruit and vegetable imports with effect from the beginning of this year. Barker states that, during this period before Australian mandarins have come into season, BGP has exported mandarins from Egypt and Pakistan.
“This has provided an opportunity over the past three months to witness the quota system at work,” said Barker. “The reality is that it is not working. There appears no apparent rationale for the issue of quotas and the timing of the issue is unpredictable and sporadic.
Australian mandarin exports usually commence in mid-April, according to Barker, who warned that if there is no change then volumes will be 'decimated'.
“The problem is compounded by the uncertainty that exists – there have been no quotas issued for Australian mandarins and there is no information about when or whether a quota will be issued and to whom.”
Barker suggests managing the problem on a short-term basis by securing an agreement for a voluntary quota for Australian mandarins that could be administered by a local body.
