Expensive tag cuts Phl mango export demand

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the Philippine mango’s premium quality, its global marketability is currently threatened by low productivity, high price, and low competitiveness.

University of Asia and the Pacific senior agri-business specialist for the Center for Food and Agribusiness Ditas Macabasco said the Philippine dried mango industry is currently hounded by a pricing battle in the export market against a similar product from Thailand.

"While we are ahead in quality and taste, Thailand is ahead of us already," said Macabasco adding that one of the concerns that the industry is facing is the high cost of logistics and transport in the Philippines making local mango products more expensive.

In the Philippine market however, the local mango, dried mango in particular is experiencing high demand from tourists and balikbayans as "pasalubong".

In 2013, the Philippine dried mango products of two big brands, penetrated 22 international destinations including United States, followed closely by China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

About 85 percent of the dried mango produced in the Philippines is exported. Last year, the growth registered at 3.57 percent.

In 2011, the Philippines posted a seven percent growth in mango production, which was attributed largely to continuous flower induction in Southern Tagalog-A (Calabarzon), Southern Tagalog-B (Mimaropa), Central Luzon, Bicol, Ilocos and other parts of Mindanao and the Visayas.

This enabled the country to earn a total of over $50 million from combined exports of fresh, dried and processed mangoes during the 12-month period during the year.

DA secretary Proceso Alcala is encouraging mango growers and producers to plant more challenging them to surpass last year’s produce.

The Department of Agriculture has strengthened its partnership with the mango industry sector especially in improving handling and transporting system.  (FREEMAN)