Following last year’s heat wave-affected season, a good quality mango crop from Pakistan is expected to bring prices down on the UAE market
Mango exports from Pakistan are due to start on 20 May, in accordance with the government’s strictly timed export policy.
According to Mustafa Altaf, managing director of UAE-based importer Altaf Hussain Trading Co, hopes are high given this season’s high quality mango crop in Pakistan.
“The crop this year looks quite decent,” he said. “Production in Punjab has been good, although some parts of Sindh have had frequent leafhopper attacks that have caused some damage.”
Pakistan’s improved mango crop has been welcome after last year’s heat waves and water shortages reduced volumes by as much as 40 per cent.
Varieties including Sindhri, Almas and Dusehri arrive in the UAE first from the province of Sindh, followed by Punjab varieties including Chaunsa.
Indian mangoes are already on the market, and Altaf said strong production would bring prices down in the UAE compared with last year, partly as a result of the devaluation of the rupee.
“The additional benefit is that the rupee has dropped drastically against the UAE dirham in the past year and this also makes imports from Pakistan cheaper,” he told the Khaleej Times.
