By Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistan is stepping up efforts to expand mango exports by deepening access to the Chinese market and opening new export destinations, even as adverse weather conditions, rising freight costs and regional trade disruptions threaten this year's export performance.

As part of its export promotion strategy, the Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) has launched business-to-business (B2B) engagements in China to connect Pakistani exporters with potential buyers.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, PHDEC Manager Agri Products Khawar Nadeem said the first B2B session was held on June 9, bringing together 12 to 14 prospective Chinese buyers and Pakistani exporters to facilitate trade partnerships.

"We invited potential buyers of Pakistani mangoes and facilitated direct matchmaking with exporters so that commercial exports can begin more effectively," he said.

In another major development, seven additional mango processing and Hot Water Treatment (HWT) facilities have been registered with China's General Administration of Customs (GACC), increasing the number of approved Pakistani facilities from 25 to 32.

"The newly approved units are now eligible to pack and export mangoes to China," Khawar said, adding that the expansion would strengthen Pakistan's export infrastructure and improve compliance with Chinese import requirements.

To address mounting logistics challenges, PHDEC is also working with the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) on an alternative transport corridor that would move mango consignments through Sust, Tashkurgan and Kashgar before distribution to China's interior markets.

According to Khawar, export diversification has become increasingly important following the closure of the Afghanistan border and rising transportation costs linked to regional tensions affecting traditional trade routes.

"To compensate for expected export losses this season, we are actively moving towards alternative markets," he said.

Pakistan has already secured approval for four to five additional mango varieties for export to Japan and is pursuing market access for Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the same time, PHDEC is conducting awareness campaigns for exporters on import regulations, Goods Declaration (GD) procedures and export requirements for Middle Eastern markets and Iran to ensure smooth shipments during the current season.

The company has also expanded mango bagging practices at the farm level to improve fruit quality, appearance and export competitiveness.

These initiatives come as Pakistan's mango export season begins under difficult circumstances. Exports have started from Sindh, while shipments from southern Punjab are expected shortly, followed by larger volumes from central Punjab later this month.

Khawar said adverse climatic conditions have significantly affected production, forcing PHDEC to revise crop estimates downward by 20% to 30% compared with last year.

As a result, mango exports are projected to decline to around 80,000 tonnes this season, down from nearly 110,000 tonnes last year.

Despite lower production, international demand for Pakistani mangoes remains strong. Premium varieties such as Sindhri, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and White Chaunsa continue to enjoy robust demand across the Gulf region, China, Europe and North America.

Pakistan typically exports around 110,000 tonnes of mangoes annually to nearly 50 countries, generating between $75 million and $80 million in foreign exchange earnings.

Khawar noted that the industry's performance this year will largely depend on how effectively exporters manage higher transportation costs while maintaining competitiveness in overseas markets.

He said the closure of the Afghanistan border has disrupted a critical trade corridor used not only for exports to Afghanistan but also for shipments destined for Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

"The Afghanistan route has historically been the most efficient corridor for Pakistan's exports to Central Asia," he said. "The alternative route through Iran adds several thousand kilometres, increases transit time and significantly raises logistics costs."

He stressed that while demand for Pakistani mangoes remains strong, exporters face a challenging season marked by higher freight costs, logistical disruptions and a smaller crop.

"The demand is there, but maintaining competitiveness in traditional export markets will be the key challenge this season," he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk