Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) has announced that mango exports to Japan, the country's key overseas market for the fruit, increased by 19 per cent this year to hit 999 tonnes from the 838 tonnes sent in 2008.
The result was achieved despite a shorter growing season, according to chief secretary of the COA's agriculture and food agency Hsu Han-ching, which usually lasts into August but this year ended on 27 July. Additionally, overall crop volumes fell on 2008, he said.
COA has attributed this year's increase in Japanese imports to enhanced quality control systems and a rise in orders for premium mango varieties, Taiwan News reported, with the Irwin variety proving a strong seller in the country in particular.
Despite the rise in Japanese imports, the COA is unsure if overall mango exports have surpassed last year's total of 3,307 tonnes.
'The total export volume of the fruit is estimated at over 3,000 tonnes, said Mr Hsu. 'Hopefully this year's volume will exceed the 3,307 tonnes shipped last year.'
According to the COA, mango exports to Japan in last year were valuedat US$5.2m, with the next most-valuable markets South Korea (US$3mworth of fruit exported) and Hong Kong (US$590,000).
