SENEGAL – Mango exports in Senegal amounted to 12,000 tons during the 2023 season, down 25% compared to the 16,000 tons shipped a year earlier, according to official data.

Senegal is one of the main suppliers of mangoes to the WAEMU along with Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso. The decline in shipments recorded by the country since 2021 raises concerns in the sector.

This underperformance reinforces the concerns of players in the sector, which has been on a downward slope since the record of 24,581 tons of mangoes shipped to the international market in 2021.

According to Aminata Diouf, general manager of the Nema Agricultural Estate, one of the main players in the sector, the situation is linked to the unfavorable climatic conditions that have affected the production and quality of the fruit.

In addition, there is the effect of the tax of 15 CFA francs per kilogram of mangoes (of which 10 CFA francs is borne by exporters and the rest by producers) imposed by the authorities in 2023 to fight against fruit flies.

“This tax has limited the exports of Senegalese mangoes in 2023 to the world market by pushing some producers not to sell their mangoes to exporters, but to sell them on the local market,” adds Ms. Diouf.

It should be noted that the European Union is the main destination for Senegalese mangoes. In the market of the economic bloc, competition is fierce with the strong presence of South American suppliers such as Brazil and Peru.

Similar case in Pakistan

Meanwhile in Pakistan, mango production has declined for the third year in a row. Pakistan produces 1.8 million tons of the fruit, with the lion’s share of 70pc coming from Punjab, followed by Sindh with 29pc and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 1pc.

Due to weather effects, mango production in Punjab is expected to be 35-40pc this year, while less than 20pc in Sindh.

As a result, the total production is feared to be reduced by 600,000 tons. This estimate was made at the start of production and will likely increase further as the season progresses.

The export of mangoes which commenced on May 20 focuses on the value-added markets of China, America, Turkey, and Japan. Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian states will also play an important role in achieving the export target of mangoes.

All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed said climate change is having a pronounced negative impact on mango orchards, leading to a significant reduction in production and the non-availability of export-quality mangoes.

He said mango exports this year would fetch USD 90 million. The export target for 2023 was 125,000 tons, but shipments remained at 100,000 tons.

In his view, this year, the markets of Central Asian countries and Iran would be stabilised through Afghanistan, while strenuous efforts would be made to enhance the volume of China’s market, where exports started last season.

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