Cambodia produces mangoes throughout the year, with greater production during the dry season from November to May. Liaoning Zhongshang International Trading Co., Ltd. is engaged in the procurement and processing of mangoes in Cambodia and exports them to Russia, Central Asia and other markets. According to Mr. Zhu Yunquan, from the company, Cambodian mangoes are very popular in Russia, especially in the high-end market.
"There are not many varieties of imported mangoes on the Russian market. Cambodia's 'Keov Romeat is the most popular, with the best sales from January to May. The skin of ripe Keov Romeat is golden yellow, with high sweetness, strong aroma, and low pulp fiber. The appearance and aroma are particularly in line with local preferences. The high-yield period of this type of mango is from February to April. Currently, the supply will be insufficient until February, causing the price to rise, but the market demand is still high. We are the first company to export Southeast Asian mangoes to Russia. We deliver mangoes to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and other places through land transportation and shipping." Zhu introduced.
“The technology of fruit farmers needs to be improved, which is a challenge for the Cambodian mango industry. The quality of local mangoes is often affected by heavy rain during the period from growth to picking. Fruit farmers have to use their technology in daily management of orchards, such as pruning, bagging, and picking. Their skills and awareness cannot meet the requirements. In order to make improvements, we established a local cooperative to provide bags, pesticides, and technology to fruit farmers to increase the rate of good fruit. At present, we have increased the commercial fruit rate from the previous 10%-15% to 30%-40%, and the goal is to increase it to 70%-80% during the dry season from this year to next year." Mangoes that do not meet the requirements will be made into dried fruits and jams to be sold.
According to Zhu, it takes about 21-22 days to transport mangoes from Cambodia to Moscow. The company controls the loss rate between 0.1% and 0.2% by controlling the ripening during picking, the temperature of the logistics process, and placing fresh fruit preservatives. "Customers pay us the full amount in advance before shipment, and we guarantee that the quality of the mangoes reaches a certain value. This is our way of cooperating. In addition, because the ruble exchange rate often fluctuates, we have settled with our customers in RMB since last year, which greatly reduces the exchange rate risk."
Regarding market purchasing power, Zhu said that the current economic situation and market consumption power in Russia are good. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, due to the sanctions imposed by some European and American countries, the import volume and sales of fruits from China and Southeast Asia increased significantly, especially during the pandemic. After it ended, the growth was even more pronounced. "Our Cambodian mangoes sell at a higher price in Russia and have been selling steadily. In addition, some fruits that have not been imported into Russia before, such as pomegranates from Yunnan, have now entered the local market and sales continue to grow."
The products of Liaoning Zhongshang International Trading Co., Ltd. include oranges, grapefruits, and kiwis produced in China, as well as mangoes and dragon fruits from Southeast Asia. The products are exported to Russia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and other places. Channels in Russia include wholesale market stalls, traders, and supermarkets.