Local firms urged to increase market shares of mangoes in US market

The nation’s fresh mango exports accounted for only 0.1% of the United States’ total imports of the product two years on from being permitted to export to the demanding market, according to figures compiled by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Statistics released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that the US's imports of mangoes of all kinds during the first quarter of the year reached 762,100 tonnes worth over US$221 million, a decline of 8.1% in volume and up 2.1% in value against the same period from last year.

The average import price surged by 11.1% to reach US$291.2 per tonne compared to last year’s corresponding period.

At present, the nation represents the 13th largest supplier of mangoes to the US. Indeed, every year the US has to import roughly 400,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes, mainly from neighbouring and regional countries such as Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Guatemala.

With this level of existing demand, the nation is anticipated to export approximately 3,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes to this market, equivalent to nearly 1% of the US’ total imports.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, director of Vina T&T Company, therefore advised businesses to pay closer attention to market segments for specialty mangoes such as Hoa Loc and green-skinned mangoes in order to increase exports to the market moving forward.

Industry experts have also advised local firms to primarily focus on establishing high-quality growing areas as part of efforts to fully meet the requirements of the fastidious markets to sell mangoes at high prices.