Korea allows mango import after approving quality

http://tribune.com.pk/story/402676/korea-allows-mango-import-after-approving-quality/

S Korea allows Pak mango imports

KARACHI: South Korea has finally allowed the import of the Pakistani mango, approving the quality of the important fruit, an exporter revealed.

 With this landmark achievement, Pakistani mango exporters have gained market access of a third highly valued and important country after the United States and Japan. “The first ever shipment of mangoes to Seoul has commenced in this season,” stated Co-chairman, Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) Waheed Ahmed on Monday.

 The Korean market was also important for the highly consumed and exported mango of the country. It was essential that the fruit could be exported through the sea routes, with Korea deemed to become the second most important destination for sea shipments after Dubai, he said.

 This development took place after the standard of Pakistani mango was approved by the visiting South Korean experts, who recently visited the Hard Water Treatment Facility of Iftikhar Ahmed and Company and Pakistan Horti Fresh Processing. The visiting team found the treatment facilities satisfactory, who consider the facility as per the required standard of the foreign country.

 During the last three years, Pakistan has successfully obtained market access of the US, Japan, Jordan, Mauritius, and South Korea. Preparations for market access to Australia, another important destination, were also already under process.

Though Seoul also imports mangoes from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and others, the unique taste and quality of the Pakistani fruit was enough for it to compete and garner a good share of the foreign market.

Besides, the proximity of South Korea, as compared to the ports of other lucrative markets, was another advantage for exporters here, who would now have another important station after Dubai.

Consignments could be shipped to Seoul within 14 days (two weeks), and at least 10,000 to 15,000 tons of mangoes could be exported to it, during the next few years. However, with the absence of marketing and advertising, the export of mangoes could remain limited this season.

 Waheed Ahmed suggested that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan organize a delegation from Pakistan to visit Seoul soon to introduce different varieties of Pakistani fruits in the foreign market.

The export of mangoes kicked off from the 25th of May, reaching the Middle East, the European countries and the South East Asian countries through air routes and cargo.

 Iran was also inaccessible for Pakistan’s exports as it had increased its duty to 250 percent and made exports impossible. “Iran was our solid market, but they made trade impossible because of the higher duty charges, while the government was not interested in handling the matter through negotiations,” observed one exporter. “The increase in duty, together with the international barriers on trade with Iran, will affect the 30,000 tons of mango export to Iran. Smuggling, through the land route to Iran, has not been recorded and it does not earn foreign exchange for the country,” he noted.

 Indonesia had also increased its duty to 45 percent, which had also made it difficult to export to. India was managing to takeover the markets of Pakistan in this region, while Australia and Mexico were competitors for the European markets. “Airlines are also charging lower freight to India as compared to Pakistan,” stated Haji Shah Jahan, President Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market.

 Pakistan has set a target of 0.15 million tons of mango exports, worth $50 million, this year, commencing 25 May. Last year Pakistan had exported 0.134 million tons and earned $38 million tons.

 The country was expecting a 30 percent decline, approximately, in production this year, to 1.2 million tons against the 1.7 million tons of last year. The reason for the decline was the change in the climate and the damage done to the mango trees. The season had also been delayed by two weeks.

 “Mango trees have suffered in Matyari and Mirpurkhas in Sindh and Multan, Rahimyar Khan, Muzzafar Garh and Khanewal in the Punjab, where mango production was low because of weather conditions,” revealed Waheed Ahmed.

 Ahmed added that this year, Pakistan’s export to two new markets, Japan and the USA, would also suffer, as the VHT plant, installed by Japan in Pakistan, processed too meagre a quantity, while the mangos exported to the USA were costlier for the consumers and exporters were not interested in the smaller market. Last year, mangoes were exported to these two countries, in smaller amounts as an experiment, which did not succeed because of the higher charges.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-118088-S-Korea-allows-Pak-mango-imports