Harvest and Demand Updates for Mangoes: The Philippines

Mango harvest in the Philippines and India is expected to continue at a high volume while South Africa and Mexico are seeing lower production levels. Import volumes have been increasing in the US, China, and East Asia as more customers consume mangoes. However, border restrictions are resulting in lower imports of the fruits in the current season and prices have been fluctuating since mid-to-late March.

Mango - The Philippines

The Season for Mangoes in the Philippines

The mango season in the Philippines starts in March and ends in June. The three well-known varieties are the Carabao mango (aka the Philippine mango), the Pico, and the Katchamita (aka the Indian Mango). Out of the three, the Carabo variety is the most planted variety, known for its rich and sweet aroma, and the only variety that is currently exported.

Harvest Estimates for 2020

The harvest of Philippine mangoes for 2020 is expected to be at a high 1047K metric tons. after last year’s bumper harvest of which left 2 million kg of oversupply and decreased prices to as low as PHP 20 (USD 0.20). The increases are mainly due to expansions in production areas from rising local demand.

Export Trends in Recent Years

The Philippines exports mangoes to more than 40 countries with most of the exports going to East Asian countries including Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, as well as Malaysia and Canada.

Mangoes are high-value crops and are considered to be a high priority product by the Philippine Department of Agriculture. Demand has been increasing in the US and China as more customers consume mangoes, especially those that are organically grown. The US is the Philippines' biggest export market for food and agricultural products, and the Philippines is seeking to expand its exports to the US to accommodate growing demand.

Currently, however, mango exports take up approximately 5% of the total production volume, with the rest consumed in the domestic market. This is as the country is not ready to increase its exports while maintaining the phytosanitary standards imposed by its export markets due to limited R&D technologies, such as cold chain management and packaging.

Japan, for instance, requires exporting countries to have their mangoes undergo a vapor heat treatment, and the US has even banned mango imports from certain countries due to insufficient pest control. The Philippines is also in need of dealing with irregular rainfall, pests, and inadequate management of orchards. All these factors are keeping Philippine mango exports at a minimum level.

Export Outlook for 2020

The export volume for this season was expected to be at approximately 31K tons, a rise from last season’s exports. However, exports are expected to be lower by 40% this season due to logistical difficulties as well as decreasing local demand for “luxury fruits”. While Hong Kong has no import ban in place, transporting the fruits is difficult due to the nationwide lockdown in the Philippines. Malaysia has also temporarily closed its borders and limited movement in ports, resulting in lower imports of the fruits. Average prices fell to approximately PHP 130 (USD 2.57) per kg from the usual PHP 200 (USD 3.95) per kg.

https://www.tridge.com/stories/harvest-and-demand-updates-for-mangoes-the-philippines-south-africa-mexico-and-india#:~:text=The%20harvest%20of%20Philippine%20mangoes,areas%20from%20rising%20local%20demand.