In Italy, the imported Peruvian Kent mango season is coming to an end with declining quality and consumption, and prices for Brazilian mangoes are stable. South Africa has produced around 120,000 tonnes of mangoes this season, with some interest in cultivating late mangoes as alternatives to citrus. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of mangoes, and its mango growers are eyeing the export market, with Russia being a large importer of Panzhihua mangoes.
In India, there has been huge demand for Indian mangoes, with prices remaining high despite good yields this season. In North America, the mango supply has increased, bringing prices down after a period of high prices. Mexican production is shifting from Southern to Central Mexico, with more large fruit, particularly Honey mangoes and Tommy Atkins, becoming available. While supplies are currently behind last year's numbers, shippers expect to catch up in the next few weeks.
In Colombia, the first Keitt mangoes from the department of Magdalena have arrived in Europe, competing with African mangoes for market share. The Colombian company responsible for the shipment plans to increase volumes and expand to new destinations. In Peru, however, adverse weather conditions are making it difficult for mango producers, with high temperatures and rain affecting the flowering period.
The Netherlands: Mango market sets sights on West Africa
Dutch mango importers speak of a smooth transition from the Peruvian to the West African mango season. Moreover, the volumes sent by Brazil are not large and, according to the importers, not of perfect quality either. In addition, supermarkets are also increasingly demanding Kent mangoes, and Keitt mangoes are in less and less demand. As a result, the West African season is currently being watched with interest, which a Dutch importer always characterises as a challenging branch of sport, with which there have also been losses in recent years. This year, however, West African supply is unexpectedly lower than predicted, creating a healthy market tension. However, the season of the various African origins does seem to match up well this year.
Belgium: Prices for mangoes soaring on the Belgian market
High prices are dictating the mango market at the moment. "We have switched from the Peruvian season to the West African season since a few weeks," explains a Belgian trader. "The vast majority is currently coming from Côte d'Ivoire. However, supply is lagging a bit behind due to the drought there. As a result, a bit less is arriving and prices are flying up. However, we still prefer this much more than the dramatic situation in January when prices fell through the floor. Sales also continue to run well, as the sun is starting to come through a bit more and therefore a mango is more likely to end up in a salad, despite the higher prices."
Germany: Peruvian season is coming to an end
According to a North German merchant, the season for airfreight mangoes from Peru is slowly coming to an end. He noticed there have been slight problems due to the comparatively lower harvest situation with minor problems in logistics. The season turned out better than expected, since customers were more willing to spend an appropriate amount of money for the higher priced airfreight mangoes.
He mostly sells mangoes of the Kent variety, which are sold to smaller fruit and vegetable stores and weekly markets, while supermarkets tend to fall back on cheaper goods transported via ships. In two to three weeks, the Peru season will probably end. After this he will turn to goods from Mexico and Brazil, and also small amount of goods from the Ivory Coast, depending on the climate and harvest conditions in the respective countries. During the summer, the demand will move towards regional products such as soft fruits and stone fruits. Therefore, the demand for mangoes will decline accordingly.
France: Good quality and demand for mangoes
Currently, the French market mostly contains mangoes of the variety Kent from Ivory Coast, the variety Tommy Atkins from Brazil and the Palmer, also grown in Brazil. This last variety is more represented in the Netherlands. Currently the volumes from Ivory Coast are reduced with a decrease of 20% to 30% compared to last year. On the other hand, the quality of very satisfactory. Prices at the import stage are between 6 and 7 Euro/package. As for the demand, it is stable and sustained.
Italy: Varied but stable imported mango market
"The season of the Peruvian imported mango Kent is coming to an end. Being at the close of the campaign, there is a decline in quality. In addition, consumption is dropping as seasonal and other fruits are preferred. As imports from other origins, such as Côte d'Ivoire, are starting, this means a higher volume on the markets and, consequently, falling prices," says a wholesaler from northern Italy. "As for the product arriving by sea, the market is stable: Brazilian mangoes of different varieties are selling at prices that are neither upward nor downward." In the short term, no major changes in this situation are expected for the wholesaler.
South Africa: Increasing interest in mango cultivation as alternative to citrus
South African mango orchards are currently in the postharvest maintenance phase, the first flowering will be in roughly a month’s time in Hoedspruit. The very last mangoes are now coming from the Western Cape, where (along with the Eastern cape) there’s increased interest in producing late mangoes as some look at alternatives to citrus.
At the start of the season there had been concern for the Tommy Atkins crop due to what seemed like subpar flowering and fruit set, and the crop estimate was set at 10% lower than last year, but as the season progressed with copious mid-season rains, Keitt volumes made up for a shortfall in Tommy Atkins.
Late cultivars like Kent and Shelly obtained good sizes as a result of these rains, and eventually the crop from members of the official mango body came to between 70,000 and 80,000 tonnes which, if the entire production of South Africa is reckoned in, means around 120,000 tonnes of mangoes were produced in South Africa over the past season.
Very little of that is exported, but export volumes are slightly up this year (final figures are not yet available). Only 6.5% of SAMGA members’ mango crop is exported (often by avocado and citrus exporters) mostly going to the Middle East.
South African mangoes lost their foothold in Europe to West Africa and particularly to Peru, which can supply mangoes – and specifically Kent mangoes - for many months of the year. South Africa doesn’t grow similar volumes of Kent which have to some extent made way for Westfalia’s Shelly over the past few years.
Apart from Mozambican Tommy Atkins imported at the end of November last year, the local season had barely any overlap with imports which had been a concern during previous season. Currently imports will come from Spain and Israel.
China: Mango growers eye export markets
China is the world's largest mango producer and consumer. Its domestic production is mainly concentrated in the southern provinces. It relies heavily on imports to meet the demand from the northern regions. In 2020, China imported 546,000 tons of mangoes, which is a 32% increase compared to the previous year. The most popular mango varieties in China's import market are Thai mangoes, followed by Philippine, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Mexican mangoes.
China's mango cultivation is mainly distributed in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other Southern provinces. Among these, Guangxi and Hainan are the two major mango-producing areas, accounting for 32% and 27% of China's total production respectively.
In March the second SanYa Mango Festival was organized. China's mango export, particularly Panzhihua mangoes, are exported to Russia, as well as to some European countries. A mango exporter from Panzhihua comments: "The export market has a lot of space and favourable policies, and now the daily shipments are quite large. Among them, the markets of Russia, Singapore, and Malaysia need high-quality fruit. The demand from Russia in particular is large. Although Vietnam produces its own mangoes, Panzhihua's mango season can just make up for the window period of the Vietnamese mango season, especially during the period of August to September."
India: Excellent season for Indian mangoes
Over the past month, the demand for Indian mangoes has been huge, both in the domestic as well as international markets. Prices are quite high, but despite that the United States is one of the markets that is very strong. There are other countries that show interest, but because of the higher prices, they’re still on hold at the moment. “We’re currently selling at approximately 40 dollars per box of 3.2 kg of Alphonso mangoes. Prices may change or increase in the next 10 to 15 days as good quality Alphonso supply has decreased in the Indian market, while the demand hasn’t changed,” an exporter from India said.
This year, the mango yield is comparable to last year’s harvest. Some of the crops have definitely been damaged by the unseasonal rains, but overall the scenario seems good this year, as the quality is better than it was last year. The logistical situation has massively improved compared to last year. Freight rates are finally down and buyers are very happy with the new situation.
North America: More mango supply brings pricing back down
Mango supplies are seeing greater volumes. “There’s plenty of yellow fruit right now and plenty of reds starting to come in,” says one shipper, noting these are Honey mangoes and Tommy Atkins. “There’s also more large fruit, which were really tight for a couple of weeks.” Particularly size 10s and 12s, the promotable sizes for the next few weeks.
While Guatemala and Nicaragua are shipping some mangos, 90 percent of supplies are from Mexico. Mexican production is also shifting from Southern Mexico to Central Mexico (Nayarit and Michoacán) and in three to four weeks, Sinaloa, until late July. Then it moves into Northern Mexico (Los Mochis) and stays there until the end of September.
Supplies are behind where they were last year at this time by about one million boxes. “We’re about the same as 2021 right now. We should start catching up in the next few weeks,” he says.
Greater volumes will also push demand. “About a week ago, prices started coming off their highs and prices will be in a more promotable area in the next few weeks and into June and July,” he says.
Colombia: First mangoes from the Colombian department of Magdalena arrive in Europe
Keitt mangoes grown in the Colombian department of Magdalena are already heading for the European market for the first time, in a marketing window in which the large mango suppliers in Europe leave an interesting space for Colombia.
"In the window that we produce Keitt mangoes for the European market, we basically compete with mangoes from Africa, especially from Ivory Coast," as the company that has made this first shipment from Magdalena explains. They are the only one company that currently has a plant authorized by the ICA in the department to pack mangoes for both Europe and the United States. "The Kent mango harvest from Peru has already left the market at this time, which means that the Keitt mango from Colombia can compete and be in demand in Europe."
"We are making the first exports to the German market, and the idea is to increase volumes and new destinations every year, thanks to the increase in our own area, as well as through alliances that we can make with local producers who want to do things good."
In fact, the Keitt mango has interesting potential to expand the exportable supply in the department of Magdalena, which today basically depends on banana exports, as explained by the company's commercial director.
The first shipment of Baby Sweet Mango from Colombia to the United States is expected to be sent in approximately 2 to 3 weeks, according to a grower and exporter from the South American country.
During 2022 the country increased exports of mango by 43.5% and is looking to build on these exports during 2023.
Mexico: Mexican mangos promoted in the US
The Mango Ataulfo season in Mexico is currently underway. It is a very short harvest season that only lasts from April to May. Most of this product is exported to the US market.
The National Mango Board in the US is celebrating what they call Cinco de Mango! with mango promotions from Mexico in the US. Mangos grown in Mexico and other varieties are promoted strongly after Easter and leading up to the 5 May Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico with a huge part of the population that reside in the US for work and business who will celebrate this day today.
Peru: Adverse weather affects mango growing conditions
Producers in Peru say growing conditions are currently making it difficult to cultivate mangos. This is due to high temperatures and rains that is affecting flowering. They will wait and see and hopefully the challenging weather will not have an impact on this sensitive period of flowering so that it does not affect tree productivity and eventual volumes.
Next week: Global Market Overview Blueberries!