An all time record in the exports of kinnow has been set by sending 162,873.81 tonnes till April 22 (2005-06 Kinnow export season), according to latest figures provided by the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB).
In 2004-05, the total exports stood at 96.755 tonnes and the previous export record was 149,000 tonnes. A spokesman of PHDEB told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the figure pertained only to exports that took place via Karachi. Since the exports by road via Afghanistan to Russia have not been reflected in this figure, exporters maintain that citrus export, in fact, had crossed 200,000 tonnes during the 2005-2006 season and the process still continues.
Export to the Central Asian States and other neighbouring countries skipped normal customs procedures and did not form part of these figures, he said.
According to PHDEB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shamoon Sadiq, the feat has been accomplished without Indonesia that has been Pakistan's traditional market and used to consume some 40 percent of total citrus exports from Pakistan.
The Indonesian authorities had raised duty on Pakistan citrus by 20 percent and drove it out of the local market, he said.
Had the Indonesian market still been available, the exports would have easily touched 250,000 tonnes, he added.
Figures available here show that Russia had been the biggest buyer of Pakistan's citrus this season by importing 31,282 tonnes till April 15. This was followed by the UAE 34,539 tonnes and the Philippines 17,271 tonnes. Iran, which resumed kinnow imports from Pakistan last year after 25 years, bought 21,319 tonnes and more deals were in process. Indonesia had imported only 6,893 tonnes and Saudi Arabia 13,153 tonnes.
Shamoon Sadiq, expressing his views in the PHDEB newsletter, said that the momentum for kinnow export had now been set. "China has also recently cleared seven Pakistani companies for citrus export and so has Philippines. The government is also negotiating Early Harvest Programme (EHP) with the Indonesian authorities and, hopefully, good news may be heard soon," he said.
Citrus export duty remained key in talks with Indonesia, he said, adding that from next year the Iranian market would expand further throwing new opportunities for Pakistani citrus fruit exporters.
All these trends show that citrus exports were well set on their way to grow.
"If everything goes well, the country would be able to touch a figure of 250,000 tonnes next year," he said.
The PHDEB plans to celebrate the new kinnow export record, achieved as a result of an enabling environment provided by the government and efforts of all the market players, including exporters, growers and service providers.
The board feels that the "gigantic efforts" of the players need to be appreciated. Acknowledging their efforts would help maintain kinnow export tempo and enlarge exports of horticulture produce from the country.
A national kinnow gala is scheduled to be held in Lahore some time this month in this connection. The date for the gala is being finalised keeping in view the convenience of all private and public stakeholders of kinnow trade.
Meanwhile, Philippines has cleared seven Pakistani firms for kinnow export. The board was informed about this development in the first week of April.
In a letter, received by the board, the Bureau of Plant Industry has said that seven companies, ie Chase International, JMB Traders, Mateela Kinnow factory, Zahid Kinnow and Grading Plant, National Kinnow Factory, Iftikhar Ahmed & Company and Sadurddin Co, are entitled to export kinnow to the Philippines, as they now meet the import criteria.
The Philippines, already a big market for Pakistani kinnow, has so far imported over 15,000 tonnes of fruit, and the shipments are still continuing. The clearance accorded to seven firms would give a big boost to exports and Filipinos may become major consumers of Pakistani kinnow.
The Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines has also promised to finalise its recommendations and send the same to both the governments for inclusion in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the two countries intend to sign soon.
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