Mango exporters squeezing in shipments as EU ban nears

Indian mango exporters seem to be in a rush to export as much as possible before the ban by the European Union (EU) comes into effect on May 1. Around 310 tonne of mangoes has been cleared by the Regional Plant Quarantine Station (RPQS) in Mumbai between March 1 and April 11, OP Verma, deputy director, RPQS, Mumbai told FE.

This year, mangoes have gone to France, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and UK, in addition to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, Dubai and Bahrain. RPQS is part of the Plant Quarantine Organization of India (PQOI), which comes under the directorate of plant protection & storage, whose mandate is to prevent spreading of exotic pests in India.

Shipments of fruit and vegetables have to go through the quarantine measures of these regional plant stations. Last month, mangoes, eggplant, two types of gourds and the taro plant from India were banned from the European market following concerns over high levels of contamination, mainly from non-European fruit flies. The emergency measure comes into effect on May 1, 2014 and the ban will last until at least December 2015.

Senior officials from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the western region maintain that stringent quarantine inspections have been in process, and all fresh produce would be routed through pack houses from APEDA before being exported to the EU. Officials said that exports to Europe were in progress and there have been no issues till date.

Officials from Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) said the impact would be seen later since the season is yet to begin. A couple of shipments (20 tonne) are already on way to New Zealand and the US, and exports to Europe are low. therefore, there would not be much of an impact, senior officials said. Moreover, mango production in the state has been hit by unseasonal rains with the result that production is likely to be down by around 15-20%. According to Ajit Gogate, chairman, Devgad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha, a society of 700 farmers growing Alphonsos in the Devgad taluka of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg region, says production is expected to drop to around 25,000 tonne from an average of 45,000 tonne.

In value terms, exports of Indian mangoes and vegetables to EU account for only 10%. But it could have an adverse effect as India exported a record 500 tonne to the US last year. India produces 1,63,37,400 tonne of mangoes every year, and is the largest producer in the world. A recent study said that EU imports over 224 million kg of mangoes, valued at approximately 265 million euros. The Gulf accounts for 20% of India?s exports.

As per a recent ASSOCHAM study, there has been an increase in mango exports ? they have grown by over 27% in the last three years (to R267 crore in 2012-13 from R164 crore in 2010-11). The UAE is the top export destination for India’s mangoes, accounting for over 61%. The UK?s share is 12%, and that of Saudi Arabia is 5%. Qatar, Kuwait and Bangladesh are other leading export destinations. With a CAGR of about 110% in mango imports from India, Qatar leads the pack while the share of the US is 88%. That of Oman is 84%.

The Assocham study mentioned that mango production across India, in all likelihood, will remain 15-20% lower than last year’s level of 18 million tonne, and even exports are likely to remain muted.