Key Takeaways
- Iran is preparing to send a two-member team to inspect newly established hot-water treatment plants for mangoes.
- The visit aims to pave the way for approval of more facilities and help Pakistan revive exports to Iran.
- Pakistan's mango exports to Iran have declined sharply, with only around 30,000 tonnes expected this year.
Pakistan is set to welcome an Iranian inspection team to assess newly established hot-water treatment (HWT) plants for mangoes. The visit, expected shortly, follows months of correspondence between Iranian authorities and Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP).
The proposed inspection is significant for Pakistani mango exporters, who have seen a sharp decline in shipments to Iran. According to industry sources, only around 30,000 tonnes of mangoes are expected to be exported this year, compared to over 60,000 tonnes in previous seasons.
Approval of additional HWT facilities could double exports to Iran, providing greater flexibility and enabling Pakistan to recover part of the market lost in recent years. Currently, Pakistan’s mango exports to Iran depend on a limited number of approved treatment plants.
The DPP director general and the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research have been pursuing the matter with Iranian authorities, leading Tehran to convey its willingness to send an inspection team. However, some treatment plant operators, seeking to maintain their dominant position, could oppose the development of new HWT facilities.
Iran has traditionally been an important market for Pakistani mangoes, with geographical proximity giving Pakistani exporters a logistical advantage over suppliers from more distant markets. The Iranian inspection team’s assessment will be closely watched by mango growers and exporters.
Pakistan exports mangoes to the Gulf region via air and sea routes, and reaches European markets only by air. Industry stakeholders believe that expanding the number of approved HWT facilities, coupled with strict compliance with Iranian phytosanitary requirements, could help Pakistan increase exports to other countries as well.
Abdul Waheed, chairman of the Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, cautioned that any further interception of consignments or non-compliance with phytosanitary requirements could hinder the progress. The approval of new HWT facilities is seen as a critical step in regaining a larger share of the Iranian mango market.
