Taiwan Pingtung mangoes enter their season: what about the yield and export prices?
Mango season is here! These days mark the mango production period in Pingtung County. Besides continuing to use trading companies' export channels so that people overseas can buy mangoes at various outlets, the Pingtung County Government has also teamed up with distributors: while overseas consumers are visiting Taiwan, or by asking someone in Taiwan to go to outlets such as the domestic Dinghao and JASONS supermarkets, or by going online to the UDN online shopping platform, they can pre-order mangoes. In as little as 5 days after harvest, consumers far overseas can receive them and get a fresh taste.
According to statistics from the Council of Agriculture, in 2017 the planted area of improved varieties such as Irwin and Summer Snow mangoes reached 13,378 hectares, concentrated in Tainan City and Pingtung County; last year mango exports totaled 6,524 metric tons, with export markets mainly mainland China, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan and other places. Therefore, the Pingtung County Government has also targeted these countries with home delivery: overseas buyers can order mangoes through distributors or online, and receive them in as little as 5 days after harvest.
The mango season is very short, so the pre-order period has to be limited to July 8. Irwin mangoes can be delivered to Japan, Hong Kong, China, mainland China and other places; Summer Snow mangoes, due to quarantine issues, currently still cannot be sold to Japan, but can still be delivered to Hong Kong, China and mainland China.
Delivery prices vary according to delivery region and specifications. For example, delivery to Japan of 5 kg (about 9 to 14 pieces) of Irwin mangoes, including shipping, costs 2,700 yuan; delivery to Hong Kong, China and mainland China of 2.5 kg of Irwin mangoes is priced at 1,500 yuan and 1,580 yuan respectively; Summer Snow mangoes, because only about 200 hectares are currently planted across Taiwan, are more expensive: delivery to Hong Kong, China and mainland China of 2.5 kg is priced at 1,680 yuan and 1,700 yuan respectively.
According to statistics from the Agricultural Products Market Trading Information Station, on May 17 the auction price of Irwin mangoes was 49.9 yuan per kg, lower than 58.7 yuan in the same period last year. Wang Liming, a mango farmer in Fangshan, Pingtung, said this year's mango yield is indeed higher, and he hopes exports will boost mango prices and increase farmers' income.
