CURRENT SITUATION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF WORLDWIDE MANGO PRODUCTION AND MARKET

Abstract

While the number of mango producing countries, around 100, has not varied much over the last decade, growth has been slow but steady with an output of some 35 million tons in 2008. Although Oceania (mainly Australia) and Europe (Spain) are still minor players, mangoes are being produced in all continents, with Asia leading world production, followed by America and Africa. India, with 13.6 million tons, continues to be the main producer, followed at some distance by China, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, Brazil, The Philippines, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Mexico, Brazil, Pakistan, Peru, and India are the leading exporters. With the exception of Asian countries, where consumer preference is oriented towards taste rather than colour, the Floridian cultivars like ‘Tommy Atkins’, ‘Haden’, ‘Kent’, ‘Keitt’, still dominate the global export market, although the Mexican cultivar ‘Ataulfo’ is becoming increasingly popular in the US. Prices have remained fairly stable in recent years, except for organic mangoes, which are making headway in international markets, particularly in the USA, EU and Japan. In the absence of important varietal changes or significant new plantings worldwide, improved crop management is most likely the sole factor responsible for production increase, which will probably slow down unless new, higher-yielding cultivars appear and can be extensively planted.