Stormy weather affects UAE mango trade

It is going to be a bad year for mango lovers across the UAE, fruit traders have warned. Unexpected storms in India and Pakistan, who supply the UAE with 70 per cent of its mangos, have destroyed much of this year’s crop.

Altaf & Khammas Trading Co. gets a steady supply of mangos all year round from countries including India, Pakistan and Australia. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

ABU DHABI // Mango lovers will be hit at the checkouts after storms across India and Pakistan are expected to wipe out much of this year’s crops, traders warn.

The two countries supply the UAE with 70 per cent of its mangoes, but rain in February and last month will have a big effect on exports.

“Last year we exported 1.75 million tonnes of mangoes to the UAE. I don’t think we will be able to export even a million this year,” said S Insram Ali, president of the Mango Growers Association of India.

Fifteen per cent of Pakistan’s crops is forecast to be affected.

“So far the first batch of mango crop has been good,” said Waheed Ahmed, chairman of the country’s fruit and vegetables export association. “But fruit from the Punjab will be affected due to unforeseen rain.”

“Overall, we are not in such a bad position as compared to Indian mango production,” Mr Ahmed said.

He said that last year Pakistan exported 94,000 tonnes of mangoes globally, of which the UAE imported 32 per cent.

Mr Ahmed said that this year there would be a 15 per cent decline in the 1.8 million tonnes of annual production.

V Nandakumar, chief communications officer at the LuLu Group, confirmed that growing demand with less supply would lead to price rises.

“Last year was very good both in terms of supply and price of mangoes in the UAE market. However this year seems to be challenging,” Mr Nandakumar said. “We cannot say how much but certainly the price will be higher.”

He said that his company was in a much better position than smaller retailers.

“LuLu has a long-term contract with the farmers and growers back in India and Pakistan,” he said. “As a result, we are not dependent on the wholesale market in the UAE. In this way, we are comparatively secure in terms of supply and price control.”

Bashir Shafi Ahmed, a fruit and vegetable trader in Dubai for the past 18 years, said Dh500 million worth of mangos were sold in the UAE last year.

“The UAE is a mango-loving country, especially those that come from India and Pakistan,” said Mr Ahmed, who is from Mumbai. “It is the most popular fruit in the local market during this season. Almost 50 per cent of our fruit trade comprises of mangoes during this time.

“I am not sure how things will progress this year. There is already short supply and it seems to be deteriorating in the coming months.”

Mr Ali said logistical difficulties are another challenge while exporting mangoes to the UAE.

“It is a very fragile fruit and cannot bear long hours of travelling. Hence, if we opt for air shipment, it means much higher cost than sea shipment, which eventually has a bearing on the price,” he said.

“Pakistani mangoes, on the other hand, are much cheaper because of easy and short travel to the UAE.”