Westfalia flies flag for South African mangoes: A dwindling export industry, or one that can be restored to former glory? Westfalia believes there is clearly still a future for South African mangoes on external markets

摘要

BETTER climatic conditions in the main South African mango-growing regions are encouraging signs as growers prepare to harvest their 2007 crop. It will, however, take some time before the South African mango export programme will be revived to its former status. The facts speak for themselves. In 2003, South African mangoes accounted for 56 per cent of imported mangoes into Europe. By 2004 this had dwindled to 26 per cent, and since then the decline has continued. In 2003, South African mango exports reached 4.3m 4kg-cartons; in 2006, only 600,000 cartons were shipped. Few people are prepared to venture a guess what will really happen in 2007.