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last mo.

Pakistan Faces 30% Drop in Mango Exports

Soaring container freight and closed regional routes have cut sales to Gulf, Iran and Afghanistan and left growers facing steep income losses.

Hopes the glut of mangoes in local markets could help offset lost export earnings were dashed by struggles with high prices for other goods
Pakistan's inflation rate leapt to 10 percent in the three months after the conflict began, from 5.5 percent in the July-February period
The challenges sparked by the Middle East war, underscore the geopolitical vulnerability of Pakistan's economy
Total mango exports were expected to shrink by around 30,000 tons since last season to 80,000 tons this year

Overview

  • Exporters and traders say shipments for this mango season are set to fall about 30 percent to roughly 80,000 tonnes, a shortfall of about 30,000 tonnes compared with last year.
  • Freight costs for a 25-tonne container have jumped from about $1,400 last year to an estimated $6,000–$7,000 this season, eroding profit margins for time-sensitive fruit exports.
  • Hostilities and border closures in the Middle East and with Afghanistan reduced demand in Pakistan’s main markets and stalled trucked trade, and a tentative ceasefire reported this week arrived too late to salvage the season.
  • Domestic prices have dropped to about Rs 200 per kilogram but local sales remain weak because inflation and falling household purchasing power have cut consumer demand, prompting some orchard contractors to abandon leases.
  • Industry voices call for quick diversification of export markets, investment in cold-chain storage and more processing capacity to reduce future vulnerability of a sector that typically earns about $110 million a year.