KARACHI: The country’s mango exports increased by 25 percent during the ongoing season due to high demand of the fruit during the holy month of Ramazan.
According to figures issued by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), the overseas shipments of the fruit by the Pakistani traders increased to 31,782 tonnes up till June, 19, 2016, compared with 25,511 tons in the same period last year. The shipments began dispatching May 20, and would continue till the end of October.
Countries such as UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UK have emerged as major trading partners where demand as increased. Shipments to UK rose to a whopping 94 percent in almost a month from a year earlier. It was followed by UAE with 51 percent surge in exports. While, shipments to Oman registered 44 percent rise.
Pakistani sellers supplied 16,013 tonnes mangoes to the UAE during the current season, compared with 10,668 tonnes in the same season last year. Mango exports to Oman increased to 2,866 tonnes as against 1,984 tonnes a year ago, while Saudi Arabia reached 2,137 tonnes from 926.265 tonnes in the previous year.
Traders exported 2,158 tonnes fruits to the UK as against 1,103 tonnes last season. However, exports to Iran declined to 6,894 tonnes this season from 9,204 tonnes last year as some Pakistani consignments were intercepted in Iran on the discovery of fruits flies.
