PESHAWAR, Jun 2: Pakistan’s mango export season begin under mounting pressure from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, soaring freight costs, climate-related challenges and declining fruit yields, prompting exporters to cut this year’s export target by nearly 30 percent.
The first shipment of Pakistani mangoes is scheduled to leave for international markets on Tuesday, but industry stakeholders fear one of the most difficult export seasons in recent years.
According to Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA), exporters are grappling with unprecedented logistical and financial hurdles as regional instability disrupts access to key Gulf markets, the largest destination for Pakistani mangoes.
“In view of the extraordinary challenges facing the trade, the export target has been reduced to 80,000 tons from last year’s 110,000 tons,” Ahmed said.
The decline is expected to significantly impact export earnings. Pakistan generated around $110 million from mango exports last season, but revenues this year are projected to fall to between $75 million and $80 million.
The Gulf region, which absorbs nearly 35 percent of Pakistan’s mango exports, is expected to be among the hardest-hit markets due to the fallout from escalating tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East.
The crisis has triggered a dramatic surge in transportation costs, squeezing exporters already struggling with higher production expenses, Waheed added.
Sea freight charges to Gulf destinations have jumped from $1,200-$1,400 per container last season to as much as $6,000-$7,000 this year. Air freight rates have also more than doubled, climbing from 70-90 cents per kilogram to nearly $2 per kilogram.
The burden is further compounded by rising domestic fuel prices, which have increased transportation costs from orchards to packing facilities and ports.
Waheed Ahmed says despite the difficult environment, PFVA remains determined to protect Pakistan’s presence in both traditional and emerging export markets.
The association also expressed concern over the closure of trade routes through Afghanistan, warning that exports to Afghanistan and Central Asian states could suffer.
However, Ahmed said exports to Iran may increase if both countries improve coordination on quarantine procedures and harmonize regulatory requirements.
He praised the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of National Food Security for resisting pressure from vested interests seeking an earlier export season.
By maintaining the June 1 start date, the government has ensured that Pakistani mangoes will reach international buyers fully matured, preserving the fruit’s renowned taste, aroma and quality.
Beyond trade-related challenges, Ahmed highlighted deeper structural issues facing the mango industry. Climate change, erratic weather patterns and the weak disease resistance of existing orchards have steadily eroded production over the past five years.
This year’s mango crop is expected to be around 20 percent lower than the country’s average annual production of 1.9 million tons, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Calling for urgent action, Waheed Ahmed urged the government to invest in research and development, improve orchard management practices and support quality enhancement initiatives. He stressed that Pakistan has the potential to substantially increase mango exports if fruit quality is upgraded and growers receive better technical guidance.
“Pakistan’s mango industry possesses enormous untapped potential, but realizing it will require coordinated efforts by farmers, exporters and policymakers to address the challenges threatening one of the country’s most valuable horticultural exports,” he said.
To achieve the revised export target of 80,000 tons, robust support from the government and concerned officials is critical.
With vessels delayed and shipping services severely disrupted due to the regional crisis, timely intervention in freight facilitation, port clearance and diplomatic engagement with Gulf buyers is urgently needed.
Without coordinated efforts to resolve logistical bottlenecks, even the lowered target may remain out of reach, further denting Pakistan’s export earnings and global market share, he added.
