Mandarin exporters in Samdrupjongkhar, Bhutan, are experiencing a season of optimism, driven by enhanced market prices and an improvement in the quality of oranges. Rinchen Dorji, a seasoned exporter with over two decades of experience, highlighted the favorable conditions this season, including strong demand from Bangladesh and superior quality mandarins. Despite a delayed start to the export season due to local elections in neighboring Cooch Behar, India, exporters have managed to send 57 truckloads of mandarins to Bangladesh.
Exporters emphasize the importance of proper packaging to meet export standards, which significantly impacts the value of the oranges in the Bangladeshi market. Current pricing strategies see large mandarins (meel) and small mandarins (keel) fetching higher prices than the previous year, with the floor price in Bangladesh reaching USD 18 for a keel box and USD 20 for a meel box. The total exports to Bangladesh last year amounted to 2,432.7 metric tonnes.
However, the sector faces challenges, including soaring transportation costs and logistical hurdles such as acquiring adequate wooden crates for packaging. Exporters are also contending with limited INR allocations approved by the Royal Monetary Authority, which impacts expenses in India and Bangladesh. Additionally, the suspension of FASTag issuance to Bhutanese vehicles has increased transportation costs, as gate personnel charge double the normal toll fee. FASTag, a reloadable toll collection tag that uses Radio-Frequency Identification technology, is crucial for seamless travel through toll plazas in India.
Despite these obstacles, exporters remain hopeful. Ugyen Duba, for example, anticipates exporting around 75 truckloads from his orchard, having already exported 16 truckloads to Bangladesh. The emphasis on quality and packaging remains paramount, with exporters navigating the complexities of the export and import business, including the challenges of dealing with the necessary paperwork.
Source: Kuensel