All set to meet kinnow export target

Kinnow exports are in full swing and the industry is well-poised to meet the Kinnow export target of 300,000 metric tons worth 85 million dollars during the current 2010-11 export season.
A spokesman of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) told Business Recorder that Kinnow export season started in early November and at present, industry is moving in full swing, farm quality is excellent, processing infrastructure is playing very well and marketing resources are ready to pick what is being packed with good returns.
Pakistan is the sixth largest citrus producing and exporting country in the world. Citrus is grown on an area of about 199.5 thousand hectare with an annual production of 2458.5 thousand metric tons. The colour of Kinnow is important for the importing countries and though in November Kinnow's colour had not developed properly, its brix was at par required for most of the Gulf export markets.
Although in the current season few of the business faces have changed due to heavy losses last year, the main have again strengthened themselves to play their due role with huge loan limits and rescheduling of loans by the banks. At present more than 200 pack houses are in action with production of about 80,000 metric tons per day. PHDEC spokesman said that commercial exporters were supporting Kinnow industry and had been sharing the main business risks of common processors. They pay some percentage in advance and pick the fruit to door step. However, 50 percent fruit is still in farms.
Kinnow is being exported to all destinations, ie, Middle East, Iran, Russia and Far East. The main markets remain Iran, Russia and Middle East. But because of heavy duty imposed on the import of Kinnow by the Government of Iran, exports are slow. As against that the new emerging markets, ie Philippine and Kuwait are consuming good volumes of Kinnow.
From Kuwait most of the Pakistani Kinnow is re-exported to Iraq. Although there are some issue in Russian markets because comparatively less production of small grade Kinnow which is in high demand in that market, but current good crop condition indicates that the required volume would be accomplished. At the start of the season there were some issues regarding labour availability because of floods in the country but was timely replaced by local labour to fill in the gap. There is a huge demand for Pakistani Kinnow in Iran and Russia but because of duty and grading exports have been limited. Once duty is reduced by Iran and small grade kinnow is made available, Pakistan could enhance exports in a big way.