Thai trade officials are optimistic of boosting fruit exports to Japan this year, as consumer awareness of Thai mangoes grows and exports of fresh pineapples get underway, according to the Bangkok Post.
The Tokyo-based Thai Trade Centre (TTC) has tipped mango exports to grow by 50 per cent this year. Japanese consumers have gained a better understanding of Thai mangoes, particularly the Mahachanok variety, following three years of promotions by the TTC, the newspaper said.
Thai mango exports must undergo vapour heat treatment under the protocol for shipment to Japan. Reflecting its high hopes for this market, P&E Techno Co has invested Bt60m (US$2m) to install a VHT plan at Kasetsart University to meet Japanese market requirements, managing director Pimjai Matsumoto told the Bangkok Post. The company, which has already received a large order from the Aeon Department Store group, is planning to ship between 800 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes to Japan this year, up from 500 tonnes last year. While the vast majority of its sales are through supermarkets and convenience stores, P&E Techno has also found a good niche selling Thai fruits through Japan’s Shop Channel TV network, the report said.
Thai mangoes reportedly retail for around ¥290-500 (US$9.63-16.60) per piece in Japan, while mangoes sell for ¥50-150 (US$1.60-4.90) per piece. Mangosteen exports could also double this year, the report noted, albeit from a low base, as production rebounds from last year’s light crop.
Thailand will also begin shipping pineapples to Thailand as part of its duty-free quota under the Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement this year. Thailand is permitted to send up to 100 tonnes of pineapples weighing not more than 900g per piece duty-free, and this quota will increase to 500 tonnes after five years. Any shipments outside of this quota are subject to a 17 per cent tariff.
The TTC will be promoting fresh Thai pineapples in Japan for fresh consumption and for use as ingredients in currries, and it is hopeful that exports will reach 50 tonnes.
Japan last year imported 1.82m tonnes of fresh fruit worth almost US$2bn. Tropical fruits accounted for some 1.26m tonnes of those imports with a value of US$989m, although the vast majority of this trade was in bananas, which remain Japan’s largest fruit import category. Thailand was the sole supplier of durians and mangosteens, and the third-largest supplier of mangoes after Mexico and the Philippines.
