Due to good mango crop, the country's fruit exports rose to $11.242 million up to July, 2007, as compared to $5.405 million of corresponding period of 2006 depicting an increase of $5. 837, or 87.46 percent.
During this financial year, Pakistan exported 28,855 tons fruits marking an increase of 13,462 tons as compared to 15,393 tons in the same period of last year, exporters quoting the official figures told Business Recorder on Monday.
However, official figures in July show a decline of 7.52 percent in fruit exports, or 2348 tons, worth $73 million as compared to June 2007 in which the country had exported 31,203 tons fruits worth $11.315 million. Exporters attributed this decline to heavy rains which had inundated the roads infrastructure hindering transportation.
According to exporters, this year a remarkable rise is possible in fruit exports due to good mango crop. "Last year, though we had good Sindhri, Began Phali and Sunera (varieties) production in Sindh, the overall exports of fruits were hampered due to not so good crop in Punjab," they added.
"This year we have a bumper crop in mango and kinnow , both in Punjab and Sindh, which is giving good results in fruit exports", they said. This year in July mango exports have gone up to 0.125 million tons while good results are expected in kinnow exports.
"Last year we exported only 88,000 tons mangoes and around 0.2 million tons kinnow, up to June 2006, but this year we expect a visible increase in exports n mango, kinnow and dates", they said. They, however, expressed concern over Russian ban on agricultural products imports from Pakistan, as Russia is a big market for Pakistani kinnow.
"Bumper crops always bring small size kinnows for which Russia is a big market, because Europeans and others do not like small kinnows", exporters said. "Though talks are underway with Russia to lift the ban but if these negotiations did not work we would have to face a big loss in the kinnow sector", they expressed fear.