Pakistani kinnow exports have reached their target volume for the first time in three years.
Over the past four months, the country has exported 221,000 tonnes of the fruit, exceeding the target of 200,000 tonnes set prior to the season.
Waheed Ahmed, chairman of Pakistan’s Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association, expects a further 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes to be exported in the remaining 20 days of the season.
Pakistan has exported an average of 225,000 tonnes of kinnow over the past three seasons.
Russia again proved to be a key market for the fruit, with close to 40 per cent of exports heading there this season, while exports into Bangladesh, Canada and Malaysia continued to grow.
However, this season hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Pakistani exporters, who have struggled to gain access to one of their key markets.
The Indonesian government’s closure of the Port of Jakarta to fresh produce has incurred extra costs for exporters, who have been forced to ship via Surabaya and then transfer their produce across land.
