Ivorian mango growers and exporters are gearing up for the imminent launch of the 2025 season. Preparations are going well, with prospects of strong demand, capitalizing on last season's memorable success. This is according to Stéphane Djédji, CEO of Bethelem Commodities.
© Stéphane Djédji, Bethelem Commodities
In terms of production, conditions are optimal for this season, according to Djédji: "At this time of year, it hardly rains, so the weather is very favorable for starting the campaign and finishing it before the June-July rainy season. The rainy season intensifies the development of fruit flies. It's still too early to forecast volumes, but I personally expect a slight drop in productivity compared with the previous season due to lower rainfall. However, this drop will have no commercial impact."
Everything is ready to launch the campaign, the grower adds: "Teams are mobilized in farms and at the packing stations. Equipment and packaging material are ready, and everything should go smoothly. The campaign kicks off on March 31, with the Kent variety, the most popular on European markets."
© Stéphane Djédji, Bethelem Commodities
Last season, Ivorian exporters achieved a nice performance according to Djédji. Our European customers were very satisfied with the size and quality of Kent mangoes. Shipments were also smooth and short, around 11-12 days by boat. Demand was strong, and export volumes reached 32,000 tonnes, an all-time record. All the ingredients for a successful season were present: good weather, smooth logistics, and strong demand. We expect the same scenario to be repeated this season.
Demand for Kent mangoes has been particularly strong in Western European markets, supplied by sea, with small volumes exported to the Middle East, whose potential is limited by the cost of air freight, according to Djédji.
The grower concedes that "exports represent only a small part of production, which exceeded 180,000 tonnes last season. There's still plenty of room for improvement. Apart from the needs of the local market and exports, a large part of the production is lost due to the weakness of the processing industry and the early end of the campaign as soon as the fruit flies, Batrocera and Ceratitis, arrive."
© Stéphane Djédji, Bethelem Commodities
"We have stepped up our efforts to ensure a more successful campaign this year. There has been a great deal of mobilization, involving growers, Ministry of Agriculture services, shipping company representatives, and other players, to avoid the mistakes of the previous campaign. We're making sure we keep up with the dynamics of demand with better quality", Djédji concludes.
For more information:
Stéphane Djédji
Bethlehem Commodities
Tel: +225 05 05 89 91 62
Email: b.commoditieslimited@gmail.com