Pakistan’s mango season has started later than usual this year, and overall production has dropped significantly due to bad weather during the flowering and fruit growing stages.
Industry estimates suggest that total mango output this year will be around 1.5 million tonnes — down from nearly 1.8 million tonnes last year. That is a drop of almost 20 percent.
Although the total land used for mango farming has mostly stayed the same, the crop took longer to ripen this year, pushing harvesting into early May instead of the usual late April. Export shipments are expected to begin from June 1 as growers and exporters get ready for the international market season.
According to growers and traders, mango-producing areas in Sindh have seen average yields despite the weather challenges. However, several key farming areas in Punjab are producing less than expected, raising concerns about national supply during the peak season.
Exporters are also facing a number of problems this year. Rising shipping costs, border disruptions, and less air cargo availability are putting extra pressure on the export sector. These issues could affect delivery schedules and increase the overall cost of exporting Pakistani mangoes to global markets.
Despite lower production, market experts believe mango prices are likely to stay relatively stable. The reason is that demand in several regional export markets is also weaker than usual, which may balance out the impact of lower supply. Traders are keeping a close eye on the market as the season moves forward, hoping export demand picks up in the coming weeks.
