Mexico is the country that exports the most mangoes in the world.
Summer and mango. There is an amazing relationship between the two. Mango is also called the king of fruits. Mango is also grown in abundance in India. But India is far behind in exports. Mexico, a country that produces 25-26 metric tons of mango, is the top country in terms of exports and despite producing almost eight times more, India is often seen at fifth or sixth position. India’s population is high so naturally the consumption is also high but it is not only this. The facilities and resources required for export in the country are not sufficient. In the name of this mango season, let us know how Mexico, which produced many times less, became the largest exporter of mango? How many countries do Mexican mangoes reach and who are the top 10 exporting countries in the world?
Actually, mango is being discussed in our country these days for many reasons. Recently Japan returned the consignment of Indian mangoes. Aadhaar said to be of weak quality. Mango wants many things after plucking it from the tree. He needs cold chain. Excellent quality is required for export. For this it is important that the farmers have the necessary resources. Have a fast supply chain. Mango is such a fruit that it starts rotting within three-four days if adequate arrangements are not made for its safety. India’s average production is 20 million tonnes annually.
Why is Mexico the biggest exporter?
The main reason for Mexico’s export strength is not just agriculture, but its access to the entire supply chain and market. Based on the data of the year 2024, there are 5 big reasons for the important facts that move it forward.
- It is very close to America. America and Canada are its biggest importers. This provides the biggest benefit to Mexico. Mexico delivers its mangoes to big markets like America in a very short time. The loss of mango is less. Freshness remains. Expenses are also comparatively less.
Mexico is the top exporter of mango. photo: pexels
- Mexico has a pack house, mango grading and excellent quality control system. In the case of export, it is more important than whether the fruit is good that the quality of the mango being exported should be maintained. This country is ahead in grading of size and color, removal of damage, spots, uniformity in packing, keeping records according to batch and lot.
- Mexico has the capacity to meet phyto-sanitary (quarantine) regulations. In many countries, there are strict rules regarding insects, larvae and fungus in fruits, it is able to overcome them. Treatment, inspection and certification are necessary for export. Countries that can do this consistently and on scale come out ahead in trade. Mexico has justified itself on this scale.
Mangoes are available in Mexico for almost 10 months of the year. photo: pexels
- Mexico has adapted itself to the export countries. In international trade, retailers often want the size range of fruits to be the same? There should not be uniformity only on the outside in how many units of packing, there should be uniformity inside also. What is the shelf life? What should be the delivery window? The supplier which provides this consistency remains at the top for a long time.
- Mexico also gets the advantage of timing and season. Mango is available here for almost 10 months of the year. Not only production, but also when it is available is a big factor in export. Sometimes it is more profitable to supply in the market at a time when other suppliers are less. This gives benefit in both price and demand.
To how many countries does Mexico export mangoes?
In the year 2024, Mexico has delivered its mangoes to 15 countries. The numbers of countries keep changing from year to year. The reason is production. The biggest buyers among these countries are America and Canada. The rest of the surrounding countries are more.
The figures are for 2024.
An important fact regarding exports is that countries like Netherlands, Spain, America are sometimes seen re-exporting. That means the fruit comes from another country and is sent from there. In trade data this role often appears like exporter. That is why it is important to keep an eye on the supply chain while reading the top exporter list. Export does not at all mean that it was grown in the same country from where it was exported.
Why is India so big in production, yet lagging behind in exports?
The biggest truth in India’s case is that India is a big producer, but apart from production, many other things are decisive in exports. It is very important to know them.
- Domestic consumption too high: In India, mango is not just a fruit, it is a part of culture and season. There is demand for it in both cities and villages. When the domestic market is large, the export possibilities become limited.
- Challenge of quality and uniformity: There are many varieties of mango in India, and the size of the fields also varies. Due to this, size, colour, stage of ripening may be different. It is difficult to make every batch the same. Big retail markets prefer only those suppliers who can always provide the same quality.
In the year 2024, only about 20 million tonnes of mangoes will be produced in India. photo: pexels
- Post-Harvest Handling: Mango is a perishable fruit. If plucking is not done at the right time, mangoes get injured, pre-cooling and cold-chain are weak then losses increase. This loss directly impacts export volumes and confidence.
- Treatment Cost and System: Pest control and quarantine regulations in many countries require treatment, inspection and documentation. The more smoothly and on scale this work is done, the more the exports will increase. Where it gets stuck, exports slow down.
- Time, Temperature and Cost: Many times mangoes have to be delivered quickly. Air cargo is fast, but expensive. Sea-shipment is cheaper, but requires stronger shelf-life and cold-chain. Many times this balance limits exports.
What is the average production of mango in India?
The total production of mango in India is generally considered to be around 20 million tonnes i.e. around 20 million tonnes per year. According to reports, 20.77 million tonnes of mango was produced in the year 2023, while only about 20 million tonnes of mango was produced in the year 2024. Mango production is not exactly the same every year, because the weather has a clear impact on the mango crop. Sometimes heat wave, sometimes storm and sometimes irregular rain, all these reasons directly affect the production.
In India, sometimes heat wave, sometimes storm and sometimes irregular rain also affect the production. photo: pexels
Another useful fact is quality
There is not just one, but many varieties of mango in India. Different varieties have different taste, aroma and shelf-life. This diversity is the strength of India, but it also becomes a challenge in terms of standardization in exports. Many mangoes start spoiling within a week of being plucked from the tree.
The basic thing is that it produces about eight times more than Mexico but it has a lot of its own consumption. Secondly, the mango season here is of three-four months in different parts. Export is possible on a large scale only when along with production, necessary resources and fast supply chain are also created.
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