Mango traders urged for shipment through sea route to USA

ISLAMABAD: The Private sector Mangoes traders have urged the United States and Government of Pakistan to allow shipment of commercial mango consignments through sea from Pakistan to USA to make the process profitable for the Pakistani exporters.

The CEO Harvest Tradings, Ahmad Jawad said in a statement here that shipment through air is expensive and it costs around Rs 290 per kilogram through PIA while shipment through sea would cost exporters only Rs 25 per kilogram thus making mangoes exports more feasible and profitable.

Jawad said, around 60 tons of Pakistani mangos will reach the United States this year. "It will not be big marketing this year," he said

On the other hand Mango importers in the US are concerned about the financial feasibility of selling Pakistani mangoes as, because of high prices; they may not be able to clinch much of market except the niche die-hard Pakistani mango fans, added Jawad.

Ahmad Jawad further emphasized that currently shipping and handling costs come to around $22 for a two kg carton; unless USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) are given more options for shipping and irradiation destinations to bring down costs and facilitate importers to the US, because of the high cost factor involved due to its importation by flight, Pakistani Mango would remain beyond the reach of the common man in the US.

"US should allow shipment of Pakistani mango through sea to bring down the cost factor",Ahmad Jawad said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011