Pakistan aims to export 125,000 tons of mangoes this season, according to the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA), which said achieving the target would net the country an estimated $100 million in foreign exchange.
The export target for the current season is 25,000 tons higher than last year’s figure, however climate change induced declines in harvest may affect the overall supply.
PFVA Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed noted mango production in Pakistan is consistently declining due to climate change and water scarcity. “There is a risk of up to 20% reduction in total mango production this year as well,” he said.
According to Ahmed, Pakistan typically produces around 1.8 million tons of mangoes annually, with 70% of the crop grown in Punjab, 29% in Sindh, and 1% in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “After the projected 20% decline, this season’s total production may come down to around 1.4 million tons,” he added.
He said efforts are underway to boost mango exports to non-traditional markets. “In addition to our regular buyers, we are targeting Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Australia, while placing special focus on expanding to Turkey and China,” he said. South Africa is also expected to open its market for Pakistani mangoes this season, he said. “Quarantine experts from South Africa will visit Pakistan this season, and we hope this will pave the way for mango exports to begin there,” he added.
Highlighting broader challenges to the sector, Ahmed warned climate change continues to pose serious risks to agriculture, while increasing water scarcity was hampering mango production. “There is a pressing need for provincial-level initiatives, including better water management, the development of climate-resilient mango varieties, research and development, and modernization of the entire agriculture sector, including horticulture,” he said.
Pointing to regional tensions, the PFVA official said they had boosted export costs. “Due to Pakistan-India tensions, shipping companies have imposed additional charges on Pakistani cargoes, increasing export costs,” he said. “We urge the Federal Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to intervene and eliminate these extra charges to help improve export competitiveness,” he said.
Ahmed emphasized that achieving the mango export target will heavily depend on weather conditions in the coming months. “Strong winds, heavy rainfall, or extreme heat could impact mango production,” he said.