Mango export to China has been started on trial in order to explore the market. Currently, a 16-kilogramme basket earns 140 Yuan, according to a wholesale fruit trading centre that exports mango.
At present, they have already exported about 30 tonnes of locally-grown mango to China on trial, and under the current market price, a 16-kilogramme basket is between 100 Yuan and 140 Yuan, according to an official from the fruit wholesale trading centre.
“We have tested mango export to China. The price is between 100 Yuan and 140 Yuan for a 16-kilo basket which contains about 50 mangoes. It is a normal price. The problem is that the journey takes a long time, so there is a long-term risk if the fruits are no longer fresh. The price can’t be good if fruits get ripe,” he said.
At present, mango export to China has been made through Mongla, and the journey takes about four days. Thus, potential exporters have watched the market while taking expenditure, temperature and length of journey into consideration because the price will be good only if fruits are qualified.
Myanmar mangoes are exported to overseas markets every year as of April, and about 200-300 tonnes of mangoes have been exported to the Chinese market over previous years. However, just a few tonnes were able to export this year due to some reasons such as lengthy journeys and rising transportation charges.
“We are unable to export 200-300 tonnes a day this year like we did in previous years, but export is made in small amounts. The market is not bad,” he said.
Mango farmers wish their mangoes to enjoy good prices because the production cost is getting higher, including rising fertilizer prices, bagging and labour charges.
Transportation charges have skyrocketed for export to foreign countries, and border-crossing export is lengthy, which is why it seems mango will have to rely more on the domestic market but needs to wait and see about exporters, said an official from Myanmar Mango Producers and Exporters Association. — MT/ZS
